diff --git a/include/sysemu/block-backend.h b/include/sysemu/block-backend.h
index 938de34fe9..228fb3fb83 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/block-backend.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/block-backend.h
@@ -208,7 +208,8 @@ void blk_op_unblock(BlockBackend *blk, BlockOpType op, Error *reason);
 void blk_op_block_all(BlockBackend *blk, Error *reason);
 void blk_op_unblock_all(BlockBackend *blk, Error *reason);
 AioContext *blk_get_aio_context(BlockBackend *blk);
-void blk_set_aio_context(BlockBackend *blk, AioContext *new_context);
+int blk_set_aio_context(BlockBackend *blk, AioContext *new_context,
+                        Error **errp);
 void blk_add_aio_context_notifier(BlockBackend *blk,
         void (*attached_aio_context)(AioContext *new_context, void *opaque),
         void (*detach_aio_context)(void *opaque), void *opaque);
diff --git a/block/block-backend.c b/block/block-backend.c
index ad3e1c882d..390fde6f71 100644
--- a/block/block-backend.c
+++ b/block/block-backend.c
@@ -1865,30 +1865,36 @@ static AioContext *blk_aiocb_get_aio_context(BlockAIOCB *acb)
     return blk_get_aio_context(blk_acb->blk);
 }
 
-static void blk_do_set_aio_context(BlockBackend *blk, AioContext *new_context,
-                                   bool update_root_node)
+static int blk_do_set_aio_context(BlockBackend *blk, AioContext *new_context,
+                                  bool update_root_node, Error **errp)
 {
     BlockDriverState *bs = blk_bs(blk);
     ThrottleGroupMember *tgm = &blk->public.throttle_group_member;
+    int ret;
 
     if (bs) {
+        if (update_root_node) {
+            ret = bdrv_child_try_set_aio_context(bs, new_context, blk->root,
+                                                 errp);
+            if (ret < 0) {
+                return ret;
+            }
+        }
         if (tgm->throttle_state) {
             bdrv_drained_begin(bs);
             throttle_group_detach_aio_context(tgm);
             throttle_group_attach_aio_context(tgm, new_context);
             bdrv_drained_end(bs);
         }
-        if (update_root_node) {
-            GSList *ignore = g_slist_prepend(NULL, blk->root);
-            bdrv_set_aio_context_ignore(bs, new_context, &ignore);
-            g_slist_free(ignore);
-        }
     }
+
+    return 0;
 }
 
-void blk_set_aio_context(BlockBackend *blk, AioContext *new_context)
+int blk_set_aio_context(BlockBackend *blk, AioContext *new_context,
+                        Error **errp)
 {
-    blk_do_set_aio_context(blk, new_context, true);
+    return blk_do_set_aio_context(blk, new_context, true, errp);
 }
 
 static bool blk_root_can_set_aio_ctx(BdrvChild *child, AioContext *ctx,
@@ -1915,7 +1921,7 @@ static void blk_root_set_aio_ctx(BdrvChild *child, AioContext *ctx,
                                  GSList **ignore)
 {
     BlockBackend *blk = child->opaque;
-    blk_do_set_aio_context(blk, ctx, false);
+    blk_do_set_aio_context(blk, ctx, false, &error_abort);
 }
 
 void blk_add_aio_context_notifier(BlockBackend *blk,
diff --git a/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c b/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c
index 8c37bd314a..158c78f852 100644
--- a/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c
+++ b/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ int virtio_blk_data_plane_start(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     VirtioBusClass *k = VIRTIO_BUS_GET_CLASS(qbus);
     unsigned i;
     unsigned nvqs = s->conf->num_queues;
+    Error *local_err = NULL;
     int r;
 
     if (vblk->dataplane_started || s->starting) {
@@ -212,7 +213,11 @@ int virtio_blk_data_plane_start(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     vblk->dataplane_started = true;
     trace_virtio_blk_data_plane_start(s);
 
-    blk_set_aio_context(s->conf->conf.blk, s->ctx);
+    r = blk_set_aio_context(s->conf->conf.blk, s->ctx, &local_err);
+    if (r < 0) {
+        error_report_err(local_err);
+        goto fail_guest_notifiers;
+    }
 
     /* Kick right away to begin processing requests already in vring */
     for (i = 0; i < nvqs; i++) {
@@ -281,8 +286,9 @@ void virtio_blk_data_plane_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     aio_context_acquire(s->ctx);
     aio_wait_bh_oneshot(s->ctx, virtio_blk_data_plane_stop_bh, s);
 
-    /* Drain and switch bs back to the QEMU main loop */
-    blk_set_aio_context(s->conf->conf.blk, qemu_get_aio_context());
+    /* Drain and try to switch bs back to the QEMU main loop. If other users
+     * keep the BlockBackend in the iothread, that's ok */
+    blk_set_aio_context(s->conf->conf.blk, qemu_get_aio_context(), NULL);
 
     aio_context_release(s->ctx);
 
diff --git a/hw/block/dataplane/xen-block.c b/hw/block/dataplane/xen-block.c
index bb8f1186e4..f7ad452bbd 100644
--- a/hw/block/dataplane/xen-block.c
+++ b/hw/block/dataplane/xen-block.c
@@ -682,7 +682,8 @@ void xen_block_dataplane_stop(XenBlockDataPlane *dataplane)
     }
 
     aio_context_acquire(dataplane->ctx);
-    blk_set_aio_context(dataplane->blk, qemu_get_aio_context());
+    /* Xen doesn't have multiple users for nodes, so this can't fail */
+    blk_set_aio_context(dataplane->blk, qemu_get_aio_context(), &error_abort);
     aio_context_release(dataplane->ctx);
 
     xendev = dataplane->xendev;
@@ -811,7 +812,8 @@ void xen_block_dataplane_start(XenBlockDataPlane *dataplane,
     }
 
     aio_context_acquire(dataplane->ctx);
-    blk_set_aio_context(dataplane->blk, dataplane->ctx);
+    /* If other users keep the BlockBackend in the iothread, that's ok */
+    blk_set_aio_context(dataplane->blk, dataplane->ctx, NULL);
     aio_context_release(dataplane->ctx);
     return;
 
diff --git a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c
index 839f120256..01c2b85f90 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c
@@ -795,6 +795,7 @@ static void virtio_scsi_hotplug(HotplugHandler *hotplug_dev, DeviceState *dev,
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(hotplug_dev);
     VirtIOSCSI *s = VIRTIO_SCSI(vdev);
     SCSIDevice *sd = SCSI_DEVICE(dev);
+    int ret;
 
     if (s->ctx && !s->dataplane_fenced) {
         AioContext *ctx;
@@ -808,9 +809,11 @@ static void virtio_scsi_hotplug(HotplugHandler *hotplug_dev, DeviceState *dev,
             return;
         }
         virtio_scsi_acquire(s);
-        blk_set_aio_context(sd->conf.blk, s->ctx);
+        ret = blk_set_aio_context(sd->conf.blk, s->ctx, errp);
         virtio_scsi_release(s);
-
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     if (virtio_vdev_has_feature(vdev, VIRTIO_SCSI_F_HOTPLUG)) {
@@ -839,7 +842,8 @@ static void virtio_scsi_hotunplug(HotplugHandler *hotplug_dev, DeviceState *dev,
 
     if (s->ctx) {
         virtio_scsi_acquire(s);
-        blk_set_aio_context(sd->conf.blk, qemu_get_aio_context());
+        /* If other users keep the BlockBackend in the iothread, that's ok */
+        blk_set_aio_context(sd->conf.blk, qemu_get_aio_context(), NULL);
         virtio_scsi_release(s);
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/test-bdrv-drain.c b/tests/test-bdrv-drain.c
index 5534c2adf9..e86798923f 100644
--- a/tests/test-bdrv-drain.c
+++ b/tests/test-bdrv-drain.c
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ static void test_iothread_common(enum drain_type drain_type, int drain_thread)
     s = bs->opaque;
     blk_insert_bs(blk, bs, &error_abort);
 
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx_a);
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx_a, &error_abort);
     aio_context_acquire(ctx_a);
 
     s->bh_indirection_ctx = ctx_b;
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ static void test_iothread_common(enum drain_type drain_type, int drain_thread)
     }
 
     aio_context_acquire(ctx_a);
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, qemu_get_aio_context());
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, qemu_get_aio_context(), &error_abort);
     aio_context_release(ctx_a);
 
     bdrv_unref(bs);
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ static void test_blockjob_common_drain_node(enum drain_type drain_type,
     if (use_iothread) {
         iothread = iothread_new();
         ctx = iothread_get_aio_context(iothread);
-        blk_set_aio_context(blk_src, ctx);
+        blk_set_aio_context(blk_src, ctx, &error_abort);
     } else {
         ctx = qemu_get_aio_context();
     }
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@ static void test_blockjob_common_drain_node(enum drain_type drain_type,
     g_assert_cmpint(ret, ==, (result == TEST_JOB_SUCCESS ? 0 : -EIO));
 
     if (use_iothread) {
-        blk_set_aio_context(blk_src, qemu_get_aio_context());
+        blk_set_aio_context(blk_src, qemu_get_aio_context(), &error_abort);
     }
     aio_context_release(ctx);
 
diff --git a/tests/test-block-iothread.c b/tests/test-block-iothread.c
index e424d360c8..1d47ea9895 100644
--- a/tests/test-block-iothread.c
+++ b/tests/test-block-iothread.c
@@ -342,14 +342,14 @@ static void test_sync_op(const void *opaque)
     blk_insert_bs(blk, bs, &error_abort);
     c = QLIST_FIRST(&bs->parents);
 
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx);
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx, &error_abort);
     aio_context_acquire(ctx);
     t->fn(c);
     if (t->blkfn) {
         t->blkfn(blk);
     }
     aio_context_release(ctx);
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, qemu_get_aio_context());
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, qemu_get_aio_context(), &error_abort);
 
     bdrv_unref(bs);
     blk_unref(blk);
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ static void test_attach_blockjob(void)
         aio_poll(qemu_get_aio_context(), false);
     }
 
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx);
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx, &error_abort);
 
     tjob->n = 0;
     while (tjob->n == 0) {
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ static void test_attach_blockjob(void)
     }
 
     aio_context_acquire(ctx);
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, qemu_get_aio_context());
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, qemu_get_aio_context(), &error_abort);
     aio_context_release(ctx);
 
     tjob->n = 0;
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ static void test_attach_blockjob(void)
         aio_poll(qemu_get_aio_context(), false);
     }
 
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx);
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx, &error_abort);
 
     tjob->n = 0;
     while (tjob->n == 0) {
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ static void test_attach_blockjob(void)
 
     aio_context_acquire(ctx);
     job_complete_sync(&tjob->common.job, &error_abort);
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, qemu_get_aio_context());
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, qemu_get_aio_context(), &error_abort);
     aio_context_release(ctx);
 
     bdrv_unref(bs);
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ static void test_propagate_basic(void)
     bs_verify = bdrv_open(NULL, NULL, options, BDRV_O_RDWR, &error_abort);
 
     /* Switch the AioContext */
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx);
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx, &error_abort);
     g_assert(blk_get_aio_context(blk) == ctx);
     g_assert(bdrv_get_aio_context(bs_a) == ctx);
     g_assert(bdrv_get_aio_context(bs_verify) == ctx);
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ static void test_propagate_basic(void)
 
     /* Switch the AioContext back */
     ctx = qemu_get_aio_context();
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx);
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx, &error_abort);
     g_assert(blk_get_aio_context(blk) == ctx);
     g_assert(bdrv_get_aio_context(bs_a) == ctx);
     g_assert(bdrv_get_aio_context(bs_verify) == ctx);
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ static void test_propagate_diamond(void)
     blk_insert_bs(blk, bs_verify, &error_abort);
 
     /* Switch the AioContext */
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx);
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx, &error_abort);
     g_assert(blk_get_aio_context(blk) == ctx);
     g_assert(bdrv_get_aio_context(bs_verify) == ctx);
     g_assert(bdrv_get_aio_context(bs_a) == ctx);
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ static void test_propagate_diamond(void)
 
     /* Switch the AioContext back */
     ctx = qemu_get_aio_context();
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx);
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, ctx, &error_abort);
     g_assert(blk_get_aio_context(blk) == ctx);
     g_assert(bdrv_get_aio_context(bs_verify) == ctx);
     g_assert(bdrv_get_aio_context(bs_a) == ctx);
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ static void test_propagate_mirror(void)
     job_cancel_sync_all();
 
     aio_context_acquire(ctx);
-    blk_set_aio_context(blk, main_ctx);
+    blk_set_aio_context(blk, main_ctx, &error_abort);
     bdrv_try_set_aio_context(target, main_ctx, &error_abort);
     aio_context_release(ctx);
 
