diff --git a/migration/rdma.c b/migration/rdma.c
index 128489e0ce..cbb6822dda 100644
--- a/migration/rdma.c
+++ b/migration/rdma.c
@@ -40,13 +40,6 @@
 #include "options.h"
 #include <poll.h>
 
-#define ERROR(errp, fmt, ...) \
-    do { \
-        if (errp && (*(errp) == NULL)) { \
-            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: " fmt, ## __VA_ARGS__); \
-        } \
-    } while (0)
-
 #define RDMA_RESOLVE_TIMEOUT_MS 10000
 
 /* Do not merge data if larger than this. */
@@ -865,7 +858,10 @@ static int qemu_rdma_broken_ipv6_kernel(struct ibv_context *verbs, Error **errp)
 
             if (ibv_query_port(verbs, 1, &port_attr)) {
                 ibv_close_device(verbs);
-                ERROR(errp, "Could not query initial IB port");
+                if (errp && !*errp) {
+                    error_setg(errp,
+                               "RDMA ERROR: Could not query initial IB port");
+                }
                 return -1;
             }
 
@@ -888,9 +884,12 @@ static int qemu_rdma_broken_ipv6_kernel(struct ibv_context *verbs, Error **errp)
                                 " migrate over the IB fabric until the kernel "
                                 " fixes the bug.\n");
             } else {
-                ERROR(errp, "You only have RoCE / iWARP devices in your systems"
-                            " and your management software has specified '[::]'"
-                            ", but IPv6 over RoCE / iWARP is not supported in Linux.");
+                if (errp && !*errp) {
+                    error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: "
+                               "You only have RoCE / iWARP devices in your systems"
+                               " and your management software has specified '[::]'"
+                               ", but IPv6 over RoCE / iWARP is not supported in Linux.");
+                }
                 return -1;
             }
         }
@@ -906,13 +905,18 @@ static int qemu_rdma_broken_ipv6_kernel(struct ibv_context *verbs, Error **errp)
 
     /* IB ports start with 1, not 0 */
     if (ibv_query_port(verbs, 1, &port_attr)) {
-        ERROR(errp, "Could not query initial IB port");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: Could not query initial IB port");
+        }
         return -1;
     }
 
     if (port_attr.link_layer == IBV_LINK_LAYER_ETHERNET) {
-        ERROR(errp, "Linux kernel's RoCE / iWARP does not support IPv6 "
-                    "(but patches on linux-rdma in progress)");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: "
+                       "Linux kernel's RoCE / iWARP does not support IPv6 "
+                       "(but patches on linux-rdma in progress)");
+        }
         return -1;
     }
 
@@ -936,21 +940,27 @@ static int qemu_rdma_resolve_host(RDMAContext *rdma, Error **errp)
     struct rdma_addrinfo *e;
 
     if (rdma->host == NULL || !strcmp(rdma->host, "")) {
-        ERROR(errp, "RDMA hostname has not been set");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: RDMA hostname has not been set");
+        }
         return -1;
     }
 
     /* create CM channel */
     rdma->channel = rdma_create_event_channel();
     if (!rdma->channel) {
-        ERROR(errp, "could not create CM channel");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not create CM channel");
+        }
         return -1;
     }
 
     /* create CM id */
     ret = rdma_create_id(rdma->channel, &rdma->cm_id, NULL, RDMA_PS_TCP);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "could not create channel id");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not create channel id");
+        }
         goto err_resolve_create_id;
     }
 
@@ -959,7 +969,10 @@ static int qemu_rdma_resolve_host(RDMAContext *rdma, Error **errp)
 
     ret = rdma_getaddrinfo(rdma->host, port_str, NULL, &res);
     if (ret) {
-        ERROR(errp, "could not rdma_getaddrinfo address %s", rdma->host);
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not rdma_getaddrinfo address %s",
+                       rdma->host);
+        }
         goto err_resolve_get_addr;
     }
 
@@ -982,7 +995,10 @@ static int qemu_rdma_resolve_host(RDMAContext *rdma, Error **errp)
     }
 
     rdma_freeaddrinfo(res);
-    ERROR(errp, "could not resolve address %s", rdma->host);
+    if (errp && !*errp) {
+        error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not resolve address %s",
+                   rdma->host);
+    }
     goto err_resolve_get_addr;
 
 route:
@@ -991,13 +1007,18 @@ route:
 
     ret = rdma_get_cm_event(rdma->channel, &cm_event);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "could not perform event_addr_resolved");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not perform event_addr_resolved");
+        }
         goto err_resolve_get_addr;
     }
 
     if (cm_event->event != RDMA_CM_EVENT_ADDR_RESOLVED) {
-        ERROR(errp, "result not equal to event_addr_resolved %s",
-                rdma_event_str(cm_event->event));
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp,
+                       "RDMA ERROR: result not equal to event_addr_resolved %s",
+                       rdma_event_str(cm_event->event));
+        }
         error_report("rdma_resolve_addr");
         rdma_ack_cm_event(cm_event);
         goto err_resolve_get_addr;
@@ -1007,18 +1028,25 @@ route:
     /* resolve route */
     ret = rdma_resolve_route(rdma->cm_id, RDMA_RESOLVE_TIMEOUT_MS);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "could not resolve rdma route");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not resolve rdma route");
+        }
         goto err_resolve_get_addr;
     }
 
     ret = rdma_get_cm_event(rdma->channel, &cm_event);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "could not perform event_route_resolved");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not perform event_route_resolved");
+        }
         goto err_resolve_get_addr;
     }
     if (cm_event->event != RDMA_CM_EVENT_ROUTE_RESOLVED) {
-        ERROR(errp, "result not equal to event_route_resolved: %s",
-                        rdma_event_str(cm_event->event));
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: "
+                       "result not equal to event_route_resolved: %s",
+                       rdma_event_str(cm_event->event));
+        }
         rdma_ack_cm_event(cm_event);
         goto err_resolve_get_addr;
     }
@@ -2469,15 +2497,20 @@ static int qemu_rdma_source_init(RDMAContext *rdma, bool pin_all, Error **errp)
 
     ret = qemu_rdma_alloc_pd_cq(rdma);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "rdma migration: error allocating pd and cq! Your mlock()"
-                    " limits may be too low. Please check $ ulimit -a # and "
-                    "search for 'ulimit -l' in the output");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: "
+                       "rdma migration: error allocating pd and cq! Your mlock()"
+                       " limits may be too low. Please check $ ulimit -a # and "
+                       "search for 'ulimit -l' in the output");
+        }
         goto err_rdma_source_init;
     }
 
     ret = qemu_rdma_alloc_qp(rdma);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "rdma migration: error allocating qp!");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: rdma migration: error allocating qp!");
+        }
         goto err_rdma_source_init;
     }
 
@@ -2494,8 +2527,11 @@ static int qemu_rdma_source_init(RDMAContext *rdma, bool pin_all, Error **errp)
     for (idx = 0; idx < RDMA_WRID_MAX; idx++) {
         ret = qemu_rdma_reg_control(rdma, idx);
         if (ret < 0) {
-            ERROR(errp, "rdma migration: error registering %d control!",
-                                                            idx);
+            if (errp && !*errp) {
+                error_setg(errp,
+                           "RDMA ERROR: rdma migration: error registering %d control!",
+                           idx);
+            }
             goto err_rdma_source_init;
         }
     }
@@ -2523,19 +2559,29 @@ static int qemu_get_cm_event_timeout(RDMAContext *rdma,
     } while (ret < 0 && errno == EINTR);
 
     if (ret == 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "poll cm event timeout");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: poll cm event timeout");
+        }
         return -1;
     } else if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "failed to poll cm event, errno=%i", errno);
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: failed to poll cm event, errno=%i",
+                       errno);
+        }
         return -1;
     } else if (poll_fd.revents & POLLIN) {
         if (rdma_get_cm_event(rdma->channel, cm_event) < 0) {
-            ERROR(errp, "failed to get cm event");
+            if (errp && !*errp) {
+                error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: failed to get cm event");
+            }
             return -1;
         }
         return 0;
     } else {
-        ERROR(errp, "no POLLIN event, revent=%x", poll_fd.revents);
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: no POLLIN event, revent=%x",
+                       poll_fd.revents);
+        }
         return -1;
     }
 }
@@ -2568,14 +2614,18 @@ static int qemu_rdma_connect(RDMAContext *rdma, bool return_path,
 
     ret = qemu_rdma_post_recv_control(rdma, RDMA_WRID_READY);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "posting second control recv");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: posting second control recv");
+        }
         goto err_rdma_source_connect;
     }
 
     ret = rdma_connect(rdma->cm_id, &conn_param);
     if (ret < 0) {
         perror("rdma_connect");
-        ERROR(errp, "connecting to destination!");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: connecting to destination!");
+        }
         goto err_rdma_source_connect;
     }
 
@@ -2584,7 +2634,9 @@ static int qemu_rdma_connect(RDMAContext *rdma, bool return_path,
     } else {
         ret = rdma_get_cm_event(rdma->channel, &cm_event);
         if (ret < 0) {
-            ERROR(errp, "failed to get cm event");
+            if (errp && !*errp) {
+                error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: failed to get cm event");
+            }
         }
     }
     if (ret < 0) {
@@ -2599,7 +2651,9 @@ static int qemu_rdma_connect(RDMAContext *rdma, bool return_path,
 
     if (cm_event->event != RDMA_CM_EVENT_ESTABLISHED) {
         error_report("rdma_get_cm_event != EVENT_ESTABLISHED after rdma_connect");
-        ERROR(errp, "connecting to destination!");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: connecting to destination!");
+        }
         rdma_ack_cm_event(cm_event);
         goto err_rdma_source_connect;
     }
@@ -2646,14 +2700,18 @@ static int qemu_rdma_dest_init(RDMAContext *rdma, Error **errp)
     }
 
     if (!rdma->host || !rdma->host[0]) {
-        ERROR(errp, "RDMA host is not set!");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: RDMA host is not set!");
+        }
         rdma->errored = true;
         return -1;
     }
     /* create CM channel */
     rdma->channel = rdma_create_event_channel();
     if (!rdma->channel) {
-        ERROR(errp, "could not create rdma event channel");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not create rdma event channel");
+        }
         rdma->errored = true;
         return -1;
     }
@@ -2661,7 +2719,9 @@ static int qemu_rdma_dest_init(RDMAContext *rdma, Error **errp)
     /* create CM id */
     ret = rdma_create_id(rdma->channel, &listen_id, NULL, RDMA_PS_TCP);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "could not create cm_id!");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not create cm_id!");
+        }
         goto err_dest_init_create_listen_id;
     }
 
@@ -2670,14 +2730,19 @@ static int qemu_rdma_dest_init(RDMAContext *rdma, Error **errp)
 
     ret = rdma_getaddrinfo(rdma->host, port_str, NULL, &res);
     if (ret) {
-        ERROR(errp, "could not rdma_getaddrinfo address %s", rdma->host);
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: could not rdma_getaddrinfo address %s",
+                       rdma->host);
+        }
         goto err_dest_init_bind_addr;
     }
 
     ret = rdma_set_option(listen_id, RDMA_OPTION_ID, RDMA_OPTION_ID_REUSEADDR,
                           &reuse, sizeof reuse);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "Error: could not set REUSEADDR option");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: Error: could not set REUSEADDR option");
+        }
         goto err_dest_init_bind_addr;
     }
     for (e = res; e != NULL; e = e->ai_next) {
@@ -2699,7 +2764,9 @@ static int qemu_rdma_dest_init(RDMAContext *rdma, Error **errp)
 
     rdma_freeaddrinfo(res);
     if (!e) {
-        ERROR(errp, "Error: could not rdma_bind_addr!");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: Error: could not rdma_bind_addr!");
+        }
         goto err_dest_init_bind_addr;
     }
 
@@ -2751,7 +2818,10 @@ static RDMAContext *qemu_rdma_data_init(const char *host_port, Error **errp)
         rdma->host = g_strdup(addr->host);
         rdma->host_port = g_strdup(host_port);
     } else {
-        ERROR(errp, "bad RDMA migration address '%s'", host_port);
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: bad RDMA migration address '%s'",
+                       host_port);
+        }
         g_free(rdma);
         rdma = NULL;
     }
@@ -4137,7 +4207,9 @@ void rdma_start_incoming_migration(const char *host_port, Error **errp)
     ret = rdma_listen(rdma->listen_id, 5);
 
     if (ret < 0) {
-        ERROR(errp, "listening on socket!");
+        if (errp && !*errp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "RDMA ERROR: listening on socket!");
+        }
         goto cleanup_rdma;
     }
 
