diff --git a/qemu-deprecated.texi b/qemu-deprecated.texi
index fe905551c5..6139d09793 100644
--- a/qemu-deprecated.texi
+++ b/qemu-deprecated.texi
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ Support for invalid topologies will be removed, the user must ensure
 topologies described with -smp include all possible cpus, i.e.
   @math{@var{sockets} * @var{cores} * @var{threads} = @var{maxcpus}}.
 
+@subsection -vnc acl (since 4.0.0)
+
+The @code{acl} option to the @code{-vnc} argument has been replaced
+by the @code{tls-authz} and @code{sasl-authz} options.
+
 @section QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP) commands
 
 @subsection block-dirty-bitmap-add "autoload" parameter (since 2.12.0)
diff --git a/qemu-options.hx b/qemu-options.hx
index 2bbcc743a4..316b3dd621 100644
--- a/qemu-options.hx
+++ b/qemu-options.hx
@@ -1619,6 +1619,14 @@ will cause the VNC server socket to enable the VeNCrypt auth
 mechanism.  The credentials should have been previously created
 using the @option{-object tls-creds} argument.
 
+@item tls-authz=@var{ID}
+
+Provides the ID of the QAuthZ authorization object against which
+the client's x509 distinguished name will validated. This object is
+only resolved at time of use, so can be deleted and recreated on the
+fly while the VNC server is active. If missing, it will default
+to denying access.
+
 @item sasl
 
 Require that the client use SASL to authenticate with the VNC server.
@@ -1634,18 +1642,25 @@ ensures a data encryption preventing compromise of authentication
 credentials. See the @ref{vnc_security} section for details on using
 SASL authentication.
 
+@item sasl-authz=@var{ID}
+
+Provides the ID of the QAuthZ authorization object against which
+the client's SASL username will validated. This object is
+only resolved at time of use, so can be deleted and recreated on the
+fly while the VNC server is active. If missing, it will default
+to denying access.
+
 @item acl
 
-Turn on access control lists for checking of the x509 client certificate
-and SASL party. For x509 certs, the ACL check is made against the
-certificate's distinguished name. This is something that looks like
-@code{C=GB,O=ACME,L=Boston,CN=bob}. For SASL party, the ACL check is
-made against the username, which depending on the SASL plugin, may
-include a realm component, eg @code{bob} or @code{bob@@EXAMPLE.COM}.
-When the @option{acl} flag is set, the initial access list will be
-empty, with a @code{deny} policy. Thus no one will be allowed to
-use the VNC server until the ACLs have been loaded. This can be
-achieved using the @code{acl} monitor command.
+Legacy method for enabling authorization of clients against the
+x509 distinguished name and SASL username. It results in the creation
+of two @code{authz-list} objects with IDs of @code{vnc.username} and
+@code{vnc.x509dname}. The rules for these objects must be configured
+with the HMP ACL commands.
+
+This option is deprecated and should no longer be used. The new
+@option{sasl-authz} and @option{tls-authz} options are a
+replacement.
 
 @item lossy
 
diff --git a/ui/vnc.c b/ui/vnc.c
index f4b335eb5f..9a4164d412 100644
--- a/ui/vnc.c
+++ b/ui/vnc.c
@@ -3356,6 +3356,12 @@ static QemuOptsList qemu_vnc_opts = {
         },{
             .name = "acl",
             .type = QEMU_OPT_BOOL,
+        },{
+            .name = "tls-authz",
+            .type = QEMU_OPT_STRING,
+        },{
+            .name = "sasl-authz",
+            .type = QEMU_OPT_STRING,
         },{
             .name = "lossy",
             .type = QEMU_OPT_BOOL,
@@ -3795,6 +3801,8 @@ void vnc_display_open(const char *id, Error **errp)
     const char *credid;
     bool sasl = false;
     int acl = 0;
+    const char *tlsauthz;
+    const char *saslauthz;
     int lock_key_sync = 1;
     int key_delay_ms;
 
@@ -3866,7 +3874,33 @@ void vnc_display_open(const char *id, Error **errp)
             goto fail;
         }
     }
+    if (qemu_opt_get(opts, "acl")) {
+        error_report("The 'acl' option to -vnc is deprecated. "
+                     "Please use the 'tls-authz' and 'sasl-authz' "
+                     "options instead");
+    }
     acl = qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "acl", false);
+    tlsauthz = qemu_opt_get(opts, "tls-authz");
+    if (acl && tlsauthz) {
+        error_setg(errp, "'acl' option is mutually exclusive with the "
+                   "'tls-authz' option");
+        goto fail;
+    }
+    if (tlsauthz && !vd->tlscreds) {
+        error_setg(errp, "'tls-authz' provided but TLS is not enabled");
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
+    saslauthz = qemu_opt_get(opts, "sasl-authz");
+    if (acl && saslauthz) {
+        error_setg(errp, "'acl' option is mutually exclusive with the "
+                   "'sasl-authz' option");
+        goto fail;
+    }
+    if (saslauthz && !sasl) {
+        error_setg(errp, "'sasl-authz' provided but SASL auth is not enabled");
+        goto fail;
+    }
 
     share = qemu_opt_get(opts, "share");
     if (share) {
@@ -3896,7 +3930,9 @@ void vnc_display_open(const char *id, Error **errp)
         vd->non_adaptive = true;
     }
 
-    if (acl) {
+    if (tlsauthz) {
+        vd->tlsauthzid = g_strdup(tlsauthz);
+    } else if (acl) {
         if (strcmp(vd->id, "default") == 0) {
             vd->tlsauthzid = g_strdup("vnc.x509dname");
         } else {
@@ -3907,15 +3943,19 @@ void vnc_display_open(const char *id, Error **errp)
                                               &error_abort));
     }
 #ifdef CONFIG_VNC_SASL
-    if (acl && sasl) {
-        if (strcmp(vd->id, "default") == 0) {
-            vd->sasl.authzid = g_strdup("vnc.username");
-        } else {
-            vd->sasl.authzid = g_strdup_printf("vnc.%s.username", vd->id);
+    if (sasl) {
+        if (saslauthz) {
+            vd->sasl.authzid = g_strdup(saslauthz);
+        } else if (acl) {
+            if (strcmp(vd->id, "default") == 0) {
+                vd->sasl.authzid = g_strdup("vnc.username");
+            } else {
+                vd->sasl.authzid = g_strdup_printf("vnc.%s.username", vd->id);
+            }
+            vd->sasl.authz = QAUTHZ(qauthz_list_new(vd->sasl.authzid,
+                                                    QAUTHZ_LIST_POLICY_DENY,
+                                                    &error_abort));
         }
-        vd->sasl.authz = QAUTHZ(qauthz_list_new(vd->sasl.authzid,
-                                                QAUTHZ_LIST_POLICY_DENY,
-                                                &error_abort));
     }
 #endif
 
