diff --git a/docs/pcie_sriov.txt b/docs/pcie_sriov.txt
index 11158dbf88..728a73ba7b 100644
--- a/docs/pcie_sriov.txt
+++ b/docs/pcie_sriov.txt
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ setting up a BAR for a VF.
    pci_your_pf_dev_realize( ... )
    {
       ...
-      int ret = pcie_endpoint_cap_init(d, 0x70);
+      pcie_endpoint_cap_init(d, 0x70);
       ...
       pcie_ari_init(d, 0x100, 1);
       ...
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ setting up a BAR for a VF.
    pci_your_vf_dev_realize( ... )
    {
       ...
-      int ret = pcie_endpoint_cap_init(d, 0x60);
+      pcie_endpoint_cap_init(d, 0x60);
       ...
       pcie_ari_init(d, 0x100, 1);
       ...
diff --git a/hw/display/bochs-display.c b/hw/display/bochs-display.c
index 8ed734b195..111cabcfb3 100644
--- a/hw/display/bochs-display.c
+++ b/hw/display/bochs-display.c
@@ -265,7 +265,6 @@ static void bochs_display_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     BochsDisplayState *s = BOCHS_DISPLAY(dev);
     Object *obj = OBJECT(dev);
-    int ret;
 
     if (s->vgamem < 4 * MiB) {
         error_setg(errp, "bochs-display: video memory too small");
@@ -302,8 +301,7 @@ static void bochs_display_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     if (pci_bus_is_express(pci_get_bus(dev))) {
-        ret = pcie_endpoint_cap_init(dev, 0x80);
-        assert(ret > 0);
+        pcie_endpoint_cap_init(dev, 0x80);
     } else {
         dev->cap_present &= ~QEMU_PCI_CAP_EXPRESS;
     }
diff --git a/hw/net/e1000e.c b/hw/net/e1000e.c
index e433b8f9a5..aea4305c43 100644
--- a/hw/net/e1000e.c
+++ b/hw/net/e1000e.c
@@ -462,9 +462,7 @@ static void e1000e_pci_realize(PCIDevice *pci_dev, Error **errp)
 
     e1000e_init_msix(s);
 
-    if (pcie_endpoint_cap_v1_init(pci_dev, e1000e_pcie_offset) < 0) {
-        hw_error("Failed to initialize PCIe capability");
-    }
+    pcie_endpoint_cap_v1_init(pci_dev, e1000e_pcie_offset);
 
     ret = msi_init(PCI_DEVICE(s), 0xD0, 1, true, false, NULL);
     if (ret) {
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/cxl_downstream.c b/hw/pci-bridge/cxl_downstream.c
index a361e519d0..1980dd9c6c 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/cxl_downstream.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/cxl_downstream.c
@@ -155,12 +155,8 @@ static void cxl_dsp_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
         goto err_bridge;
     }
 
-    rc = pcie_cap_init(d, CXL_DOWNSTREAM_PORT_EXP_OFFSET,
-                       PCI_EXP_TYPE_DOWNSTREAM, p->port,
-                       errp);
-    if (rc < 0) {
-        goto err_msi;
-    }
+    pcie_cap_init(d, CXL_DOWNSTREAM_PORT_EXP_OFFSET,
+                  PCI_EXP_TYPE_DOWNSTREAM, p->port);
 
     pcie_cap_flr_init(d);
     pcie_cap_deverr_init(d);
@@ -195,7 +191,6 @@ static void cxl_dsp_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
     pcie_chassis_del_slot(s);
  err_pcie_cap:
     pcie_cap_exit(d);
- err_msi:
     msi_uninit(d);
  err_bridge:
     pci_bridge_exitfn(d);
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/cxl_upstream.c b/hw/pci-bridge/cxl_upstream.c
index a83a3e81e4..26f27ba681 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/cxl_upstream.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/cxl_upstream.c
@@ -138,11 +138,8 @@ static void cxl_usp_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
         goto err_bridge;
     }
 
-    rc = pcie_cap_init(d, CXL_UPSTREAM_PORT_PCIE_CAP_OFFSET,
-                       PCI_EXP_TYPE_UPSTREAM, p->port, errp);
-    if (rc < 0) {
-        goto err_msi;
-    }
+    pcie_cap_init(d, CXL_UPSTREAM_PORT_PCIE_CAP_OFFSET,
+                  PCI_EXP_TYPE_UPSTREAM, p->port);
 
     pcie_cap_flr_init(d);
     pcie_cap_deverr_init(d);
@@ -165,7 +162,6 @@ static void cxl_usp_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
 
 err_cap:
     pcie_cap_exit(d);
-err_msi:
     msi_uninit(d);
 err_bridge:
     pci_bridge_exitfn(d);
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/pcie_pci_bridge.c b/hw/pci-bridge/pcie_pci_bridge.c
index 1cd917a459..df5dfdd139 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/pcie_pci_bridge.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/pcie_pci_bridge.c
@@ -47,10 +47,7 @@ static void pcie_pci_bridge_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
         goto error;
     }
 
-    rc = pcie_cap_init(d, 0, PCI_EXP_TYPE_PCI_BRIDGE, 0, errp);
-    if (rc < 0) {
-        goto cap_error;
-    }
+    pcie_cap_init(d, 0, PCI_EXP_TYPE_PCI_BRIDGE, 0);
 
     pos = pci_add_capability(d, PCI_CAP_ID_PM, 0, PCI_PM_SIZEOF, errp);
     if (pos < 0) {
@@ -90,7 +87,6 @@ msi_error:
 aer_error:
 pm_error:
     pcie_cap_exit(d);
-cap_error:
     shpc_cleanup(d, &pcie_br->shpc_bar);
 error:
     pci_bridge_exitfn(d);
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/pcie_root_port.c b/hw/pci-bridge/pcie_root_port.c
index a9d8c2adb4..92cebc7cce 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/pcie_root_port.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/pcie_root_port.c
@@ -83,13 +83,7 @@ static void rp_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
         }
     }
 
-    rc = pcie_cap_init(d, rpc->exp_offset, PCI_EXP_TYPE_ROOT_PORT,
-                       p->port, errp);
-    if (rc < 0) {
-        error_append_hint(errp, "Can't add Root Port capability, "
-                          "error %d\n", rc);
-        goto err_int;
-    }
+    pcie_cap_init(d, rpc->exp_offset, PCI_EXP_TYPE_ROOT_PORT, p->port);
 
     pcie_cap_arifwd_init(d);
     pcie_cap_deverr_init(d);
@@ -120,7 +114,6 @@ err:
     pcie_chassis_del_slot(s);
 err_pcie_cap:
     pcie_cap_exit(d);
-err_int:
     if (rpc->interrupts_uninit) {
         rpc->interrupts_uninit(d);
     }
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_downstream.c b/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_downstream.c
index eea3d3a2df..37307c8c23 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_downstream.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_downstream.c
@@ -84,11 +84,7 @@ static void xio3130_downstream_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
     pci_bridge_ssvid_init(d, XIO3130_SSVID_OFFSET,
                           XIO3130_SSVID_SVID, XIO3130_SSVID_SSID);
 
-    rc = pcie_cap_init(d, XIO3130_EXP_OFFSET, PCI_EXP_TYPE_DOWNSTREAM,
-                       p->port, errp);
-    if (rc < 0) {
-        goto err_msi;
-    }
+    pcie_cap_init(d, XIO3130_EXP_OFFSET, PCI_EXP_TYPE_DOWNSTREAM, p->port);
     pcie_cap_flr_init(d);
     pcie_cap_deverr_init(d);
     pcie_cap_slot_init(d, s);
@@ -113,7 +109,6 @@ err:
     pcie_chassis_del_slot(s);
 err_pcie_cap:
     pcie_cap_exit(d);
-err_msi:
     msi_uninit(d);
 err_bridge:
     pci_bridge_exitfn(d);
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_upstream.c b/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_upstream.c
index d954906d79..546224d97c 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_upstream.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_upstream.c
@@ -74,11 +74,7 @@ static void xio3130_upstream_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
     pci_bridge_ssvid_init(d, XIO3130_SSVID_OFFSET,
                           XIO3130_SSVID_SVID, XIO3130_SSVID_SSID);
 
-    rc = pcie_cap_init(d, XIO3130_EXP_OFFSET, PCI_EXP_TYPE_UPSTREAM,
-                       p->port, errp);
-    if (rc < 0) {
-        goto err_msi;
-    }
+    pcie_cap_init(d, XIO3130_EXP_OFFSET, PCI_EXP_TYPE_UPSTREAM, p->port);
     pcie_cap_flr_init(d);
     pcie_cap_deverr_init(d);
 
@@ -92,7 +88,6 @@ static void xio3130_upstream_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
 
 err:
     pcie_cap_exit(d);
-err_msi:
     msi_uninit(d);
 err_bridge:
     pci_bridge_exitfn(d);
diff --git a/hw/pci-host/designware.c b/hw/pci-host/designware.c
index bde3a343a2..3e4972ad76 100644
--- a/hw/pci-host/designware.c
+++ b/hw/pci-host/designware.c
@@ -414,8 +414,7 @@ static void designware_pcie_root_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
 
     pcie_port_init_reg(dev);
 
-    pcie_cap_init(dev, 0x70, PCI_EXP_TYPE_ROOT_PORT,
-                  0, &error_fatal);
+    pcie_cap_init(dev, 0x70, PCI_EXP_TYPE_ROOT_PORT, 0);
 
     msi_nonbroken = true;
     msi_init(dev, 0x50, 32, true, true, &error_fatal);
diff --git a/hw/pci-host/xilinx-pcie.c b/hw/pci-host/xilinx-pcie.c
index 38d5901a45..49f0ac5e35 100644
--- a/hw/pci-host/xilinx-pcie.c
+++ b/hw/pci-host/xilinx-pcie.c
@@ -282,9 +282,7 @@ static void xilinx_pcie_root_realize(PCIDevice *pci_dev, Error **errp)
 
     pci_bridge_initfn(pci_dev, TYPE_PCI_BUS);
 
-    if (pcie_endpoint_cap_v1_init(pci_dev, 0x80) < 0) {
-        error_setg(errp, "Failed to initialize PCIe capability");
-    }
+    pcie_endpoint_cap_v1_init(pci_dev, 0x80);
 }
 
 static void xilinx_pcie_root_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
diff --git a/hw/pci/pcie.c b/hw/pci/pcie.c
index 68a62da0b5..923ad29c52 100644
--- a/hw/pci/pcie.c
+++ b/hw/pci/pcie.c
@@ -151,21 +151,15 @@ static void pcie_cap_fill_slot_lnk(PCIDevice *dev)
     }
 }
 
-int pcie_cap_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset,
-                  uint8_t type, uint8_t port,
-                  Error **errp)
+void pcie_cap_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset, uint8_t type, uint8_t port)
 {
     /* PCIe cap v2 init */
-    int pos;
+    uint8_t pos;
     uint8_t *exp_cap;
 
     assert(pci_is_express(dev));
 
-    pos = pci_add_capability(dev, PCI_CAP_ID_EXP, offset,
-                             PCI_EXP_VER2_SIZEOF, errp);
-    if (pos < 0) {
-        return pos;
-    }
+    pos = pci_add_capability(dev, PCI_CAP_ID_EXP, offset, PCI_EXP_VER2_SIZEOF);
     dev->exp.exp_cap = pos;
     exp_cap = dev->config + pos;
 
@@ -185,38 +179,26 @@ int pcie_cap_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset,
         /* read-only to behave like a 'NULL' Extended Capability Header */
         pci_set_long(dev->wmask + PCI_CONFIG_SPACE_SIZE, 0);
     }
-
-    return pos;
 }
 
-int pcie_cap_v1_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset, uint8_t type,
-                     uint8_t port)
+void pcie_cap_v1_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset, uint8_t type,
+                      uint8_t port)
 {
     /* PCIe cap v1 init */
-    int pos;
-    Error *local_err = NULL;
+    uint8_t pos;
 
     assert(pci_is_express(dev));
 
-    pos = pci_add_capability(dev, PCI_CAP_ID_EXP, offset,
-                             PCI_EXP_VER1_SIZEOF, &local_err);
-    if (pos < 0) {
-        error_report_err(local_err);
-        return pos;
-    }
+    pos = pci_add_capability(dev, PCI_CAP_ID_EXP, offset, PCI_EXP_VER1_SIZEOF);
     dev->exp.exp_cap = pos;
 
     pcie_cap_v1_fill(dev, port, type, PCI_EXP_FLAGS_VER1);
-
-    return pos;
 }
 
-static int
+static void
 pcie_endpoint_cap_common_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset, uint8_t cap_size)
 {
     uint8_t type = PCI_EXP_TYPE_ENDPOINT;
-    Error *local_err = NULL;
-    int ret;
 
     /*
      * Windows guests will report Code 10, device cannot start, if
@@ -229,26 +211,20 @@ pcie_endpoint_cap_common_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset, uint8_t cap_size)
     }
 
     if (cap_size == PCI_EXP_VER1_SIZEOF) {
-        return pcie_cap_v1_init(dev, offset, type, 0);
+        pcie_cap_v1_init(dev, offset, type, 0);
     } else {
-        ret = pcie_cap_init(dev, offset, type, 0, &local_err);
-
-        if (ret < 0) {
-            error_report_err(local_err);
-        }
-
-        return ret;
+        pcie_cap_init(dev, offset, type, 0);
     }
 }
 
-int pcie_endpoint_cap_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset)
+void pcie_endpoint_cap_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset)
 {
-    return pcie_endpoint_cap_common_init(dev, offset, PCI_EXP_VER2_SIZEOF);
+    pcie_endpoint_cap_common_init(dev, offset, PCI_EXP_VER2_SIZEOF);
 }
 
-int pcie_endpoint_cap_v1_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset)
+void pcie_endpoint_cap_v1_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset)
 {
-    return pcie_endpoint_cap_common_init(dev, offset, PCI_EXP_VER1_SIZEOF);
+    pcie_endpoint_cap_common_init(dev, offset, PCI_EXP_VER1_SIZEOF);
 }
 
 void pcie_cap_exit(PCIDevice *dev)
diff --git a/hw/usb/hcd-xhci-pci.c b/hw/usb/hcd-xhci-pci.c
index e934b1a5b1..0eba2b36ae 100644
--- a/hw/usb/hcd-xhci-pci.c
+++ b/hw/usb/hcd-xhci-pci.c
@@ -150,8 +150,7 @@ static void usb_xhci_pci_realize(struct PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
 
     if (pci_bus_is_express(pci_get_bus(dev)) ||
         xhci_get_flag(&s->xhci, XHCI_FLAG_FORCE_PCIE_ENDCAP)) {
-        ret = pcie_endpoint_cap_init(dev, 0xa0);
-        assert(ret > 0);
+        pcie_endpoint_cap_init(dev, 0xa0);
     }
 
     if (s->msix != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF) {
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-pci.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-pci.c
index 45327f0b31..c37bdc77ea 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-pci.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-pci.c
@@ -1862,8 +1862,7 @@ static void virtio_pci_realize(PCIDevice *pci_dev, Error **errp)
         int pos;
         uint16_t last_pcie_cap_offset = PCI_CONFIG_SPACE_SIZE;
 
-        pos = pcie_endpoint_cap_init(pci_dev, 0);
-        assert(pos > 0);
+        pcie_endpoint_cap_init(pci_dev, 0);
 
         pos = pci_add_capability(pci_dev, PCI_CAP_ID_PM, 0,
                                  PCI_PM_SIZEOF, errp);
diff --git a/include/hw/pci/pcie.h b/include/hw/pci/pcie.h
index 798a262a0a..7a35851ae8 100644
--- a/include/hw/pci/pcie.h
+++ b/include/hw/pci/pcie.h
@@ -92,13 +92,12 @@ struct PCIExpressDevice {
 #define COMPAT_PROP_PCP "power_controller_present"
 
 /* PCI express capability helper functions */
-int pcie_cap_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset, uint8_t type,
-                  uint8_t port, Error **errp);
-int pcie_cap_v1_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset,
-                     uint8_t type, uint8_t port);
-int pcie_endpoint_cap_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset);
+void pcie_cap_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset, uint8_t type, uint8_t port);
+void pcie_cap_v1_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset,
+                      uint8_t type, uint8_t port);
+void pcie_endpoint_cap_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset);
 void pcie_cap_exit(PCIDevice *dev);
-int pcie_endpoint_cap_v1_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset);
+void pcie_endpoint_cap_v1_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset);
 void pcie_cap_v1_exit(PCIDevice *dev);
 uint8_t pcie_cap_get_type(const PCIDevice *dev);
 void pcie_cap_flags_set_vector(PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t vector);
