diff --git a/audio/audio.c b/audio/audio.c
index 9da2eaece03..f0788345bf8 100644
--- a/audio/audio.c
+++ b/audio/audio.c
@@ -1803,15 +1803,17 @@ static AudioState *audio_init(Audiodev *dev)
     return s;
 }
 
-void AUD_register_card (const char *name, QEMUSoundCard *card)
+bool AUD_register_card (const char *name, QEMUSoundCard *card, Error **errp)
 {
     if (!card->state) {
+        if (!QSIMPLEQ_EMPTY(&audiodevs)) {
+            error_setg(errp, "No audiodev specified for %s", name);
+            error_append_hint(errp, "Perhaps you wanted to set audiodev=%s?",
+                              QSIMPLEQ_FIRST(&audiodevs)->dev->id);
+            return false;
+        }
+
         if (!QTAILQ_EMPTY(&audio_states)) {
-            if (!legacy_config) {
-                dolog("Device %s: audiodev default parameter is deprecated, please "
-                      "specify audiodev=%s\n", name,
-                      QTAILQ_FIRST(&audio_states)->dev->id);
-            }
             card->state = QTAILQ_FIRST(&audio_states);
         } else {
             if (QSIMPLEQ_EMPTY(&default_audiodevs)) {
@@ -1824,6 +1826,8 @@ void AUD_register_card (const char *name, QEMUSoundCard *card)
     card->name = g_strdup (name);
     memset (&card->entries, 0, sizeof (card->entries));
     QLIST_INSERT_HEAD(&card->state->card_head, card, entries);
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 void AUD_remove_card (QEMUSoundCard *card)
diff --git a/audio/audio.h b/audio/audio.h
index 34df8962a66..70b264d897d 100644
--- a/audio/audio.h
+++ b/audio/audio.h
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ typedef struct QEMUAudioTimeStamp {
 void AUD_vlog (const char *cap, const char *fmt, va_list ap) G_GNUC_PRINTF(2, 0);
 void AUD_log (const char *cap, const char *fmt, ...) G_GNUC_PRINTF(2, 3);
 
-void AUD_register_card (const char *name, QEMUSoundCard *card);
+bool AUD_register_card (const char *name, QEMUSoundCard *card, Error **errp);
 void AUD_remove_card (QEMUSoundCard *card);
 CaptureVoiceOut *AUD_add_capture(
     AudioState *s,
diff --git a/hw/arm/omap2.c b/hw/arm/omap2.c
index 41b1f596dca..f170728e7ec 100644
--- a/hw/arm/omap2.c
+++ b/hw/arm/omap2.c
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ static struct omap_eac_s *omap_eac_init(struct omap_target_agent_s *ta,
         s->codec.card.name = g_strdup(current_machine->audiodev);
         s->codec.card.state = audio_state_by_name(s->codec.card.name, &error_fatal);
     }
-    AUD_register_card("OMAP EAC", &s->codec.card);
+    AUD_register_card("OMAP EAC", &s->codec.card, &error_fatal);
 
     memory_region_init_io(&s->iomem, NULL, &omap_eac_ops, s, "omap.eac",
                           omap_l4_region_size(ta, 0));
diff --git a/hw/audio/ac97.c b/hw/audio/ac97.c
index c2a5ce062a1..6a7a2dc80c4 100644
--- a/hw/audio/ac97.c
+++ b/hw/audio/ac97.c
@@ -1273,6 +1273,10 @@ static void ac97_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     AC97LinkState *s = AC97(dev);
     uint8_t *c = s->dev.config;
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card ("ac97", &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     /* TODO: no need to override */
     c[PCI_COMMAND] = 0x00;      /* pcicmd pci command rw, ro */
     c[PCI_COMMAND + 1] = 0x00;
@@ -1306,7 +1310,7 @@ static void ac97_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
                           "ac97-nabm", 256);
     pci_register_bar(&s->dev, 0, PCI_BASE_ADDRESS_SPACE_IO, &s->io_nam);
     pci_register_bar(&s->dev, 1, PCI_BASE_ADDRESS_SPACE_IO, &s->io_nabm);
-    AUD_register_card("ac97", &s->card);
+
     ac97_on_reset(DEVICE(s));
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/audio/adlib.c b/hw/audio/adlib.c
index 5f979b1487d..bd73806d83a 100644
--- a/hw/audio/adlib.c
+++ b/hw/audio/adlib.c
@@ -255,6 +255,10 @@ static void adlib_realizefn (DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     AdlibState *s = ADLIB(dev);
     struct audsettings as;
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card ("adlib", &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     s->opl = OPLCreate (3579545, s->freq);
     if (!s->opl) {
         error_setg (errp, "OPLCreate %d failed", s->freq);
@@ -270,8 +274,6 @@ static void adlib_realizefn (DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     as.fmt = AUDIO_FORMAT_S16;
     as.endianness = AUDIO_HOST_ENDIANNESS;
 
-    AUD_register_card ("adlib", &s->card);
-
     s->voice = AUD_open_out (
         &s->card,
         s->voice,
diff --git a/hw/audio/cs4231a.c b/hw/audio/cs4231a.c
index 5c6d6437320..3aa105748d3 100644
--- a/hw/audio/cs4231a.c
+++ b/hw/audio/cs4231a.c
@@ -678,13 +678,15 @@ static void cs4231a_realizefn (DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card ("cs4231a", &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     s->pic = isa_bus_get_irq(bus, s->irq);
     k = ISADMA_GET_CLASS(s->isa_dma);
     k->register_channel(s->isa_dma, s->dma, cs_dma_read, s);
 
     isa_register_ioport (d, &s->ioports, s->port);
-
-    AUD_register_card ("cs4231a", &s->card);
 }
 
 static Property cs4231a_properties[] = {
diff --git a/hw/audio/es1370.c b/hw/audio/es1370.c
index 4f738a0ad88..90f73d4c23d 100644
--- a/hw/audio/es1370.c
+++ b/hw/audio/es1370.c
@@ -853,6 +853,10 @@ static void es1370_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     ES1370State *s = ES1370(dev);
     uint8_t *c = s->dev.config;
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card ("es1370", &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     c[PCI_STATUS + 1] = PCI_STATUS_DEVSEL_SLOW >> 8;
 
 #if 0
@@ -868,7 +872,6 @@ static void es1370_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     memory_region_init_io (&s->io, OBJECT(s), &es1370_io_ops, s, "es1370", 256);
     pci_register_bar (&s->dev, 0, PCI_BASE_ADDRESS_SPACE_IO, &s->io);
 
-    AUD_register_card ("es1370", &s->card);
     es1370_reset (s);
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/audio/gus.c b/hw/audio/gus.c
index 787345ce543..6c2b586ca71 100644
--- a/hw/audio/gus.c
+++ b/hw/audio/gus.c
@@ -241,14 +241,16 @@ static void gus_realizefn (DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     IsaDmaClass *k;
     struct audsettings as;
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card ("gus", &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     s->isa_dma = isa_bus_get_dma(bus, s->emu.gusdma);
     if (!s->isa_dma) {
         error_setg(errp, "ISA controller does not support DMA");
         return;
     }
 
-    AUD_register_card ("gus", &s->card);
-
     as.freq = s->freq;
     as.nchannels = 2;
     as.fmt = AUDIO_FORMAT_S16;
diff --git a/hw/audio/hda-codec.c b/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
index a26048cf15e..b9ad1f4c39e 100644
--- a/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
+++ b/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
@@ -685,11 +685,14 @@ static void hda_audio_init(HDACodecDevice *hda,
     const desc_param *param;
     uint32_t i, type;
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card("hda", &a->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     a->desc = desc;
     a->name = object_get_typename(OBJECT(a));
     dprint(a, 1, "%s: cad %d\n", __func__, a->hda.cad);
 
-    AUD_register_card("hda", &a->card);
     for (i = 0; i < a->desc->nnodes; i++) {
         node = a->desc->nodes + i;
         param = hda_codec_find_param(node, AC_PAR_AUDIO_WIDGET_CAP);
diff --git a/hw/audio/lm4549.c b/hw/audio/lm4549.c
index 418041bc9c6..e7bfcc4b9fe 100644
--- a/hw/audio/lm4549.c
+++ b/hw/audio/lm4549.c
@@ -281,6 +281,11 @@ void lm4549_init(lm4549_state *s, lm4549_callback data_req_cb, void* opaque,
 {
     struct audsettings as;
 
+    /* Register an audio card */
+    if (!AUD_register_card("lm4549", &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     /* Store the callback and opaque pointer */
     s->data_req_cb = data_req_cb;
     s->opaque = opaque;
@@ -288,9 +293,6 @@ void lm4549_init(lm4549_state *s, lm4549_callback data_req_cb, void* opaque,
     /* Init the registers */
     lm4549_reset(s);
 
-    /* Register an audio card */
-    AUD_register_card("lm4549", &s->card);
-
     /* Open a default voice */
     as.freq = 48000;
     as.nchannels = 2;
diff --git a/hw/audio/pcspk.c b/hw/audio/pcspk.c
index daf92a4ce11..fe7f07ced21 100644
--- a/hw/audio/pcspk.c
+++ b/hw/audio/pcspk.c
@@ -123,8 +123,6 @@ static int pcspk_audio_init(PCSpkState *s)
         return 0;
     }
 
-    AUD_register_card(s_spk, &s->card);
-
     s->voice = AUD_open_out(&s->card, s->voice, s_spk, s, pcspk_callback, &as);
     if (!s->voice) {
         AUD_log(s_spk, "Could not open voice\n");
@@ -191,7 +189,7 @@ static void pcspk_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     isa_register_ioport(isadev, &s->ioport, s->iobase);
 
-    if (s->card.state) {
+    if (s->card.state && AUD_register_card(s_spk, &s->card, errp)) {
         pcspk_audio_init(s);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/audio/sb16.c b/hw/audio/sb16.c
index 535ccccdc98..18f6d252db3 100644
--- a/hw/audio/sb16.c
+++ b/hw/audio/sb16.c
@@ -1402,6 +1402,10 @@ static void sb16_realizefn (DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     SB16State *s = SB16 (dev);
     IsaDmaClass *k;
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card ("sb16", &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     s->isa_hdma = isa_bus_get_dma(bus, s->hdma);
     s->isa_dma = isa_bus_get_dma(bus, s->dma);
     if (!s->isa_dma || !s->isa_hdma) {
@@ -1434,8 +1438,6 @@ static void sb16_realizefn (DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     k->register_channel(s->isa_dma, s->dma, SB_read_DMA, s);
 
     s->can_write = 1;
-
-    AUD_register_card ("sb16", &s->card);
 }
 
 static Property sb16_properties[] = {
diff --git a/hw/audio/via-ac97.c b/hw/audio/via-ac97.c
index 676254b7a40..30095a4c7aa 100644
--- a/hw/audio/via-ac97.c
+++ b/hw/audio/via-ac97.c
@@ -426,6 +426,10 @@ static void via_ac97_realize(PCIDevice *pci_dev, Error **errp)
     ViaAC97State *s = VIA_AC97(pci_dev);
     Object *o = OBJECT(s);
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card ("via-ac97", &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     /*
      * Command register Bus Master bit is documented to be fixed at 0 but it's
      * needed for PCI DMA to work in QEMU. The pegasos2 firmware writes 0 here
@@ -445,8 +449,6 @@ static void via_ac97_realize(PCIDevice *pci_dev, Error **errp)
     pci_register_bar(pci_dev, 1, PCI_BASE_ADDRESS_SPACE_IO, &s->fm);
     memory_region_init_io(&s->midi, o, &midi_ops, s, "via-ac97.midi", 4);
     pci_register_bar(pci_dev, 2, PCI_BASE_ADDRESS_SPACE_IO, &s->midi);
-
-    AUD_register_card ("via-ac97", &s->card);
 }
 
 static void via_ac97_exit(PCIDevice *dev)
diff --git a/hw/audio/wm8750.c b/hw/audio/wm8750.c
index b5722b37c36..57954a63144 100644
--- a/hw/audio/wm8750.c
+++ b/hw/audio/wm8750.c
@@ -624,7 +624,10 @@ static void wm8750_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     WM8750State *s = WM8750(dev);
 
-    AUD_register_card(CODEC, &s->card);
+    if (!AUD_register_card(CODEC, &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     wm8750_reset(I2C_SLAVE(s));
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/display/xlnx_dp.c b/hw/display/xlnx_dp.c
index 341e91e886f..eee8f33a584 100644
--- a/hw/display/xlnx_dp.c
+++ b/hw/display/xlnx_dp.c
@@ -1302,6 +1302,10 @@ static void xlnx_dp_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     DisplaySurface *surface;
     struct audsettings as;
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card("xlnx_dp.audio", &s->aud_card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     aux_bus_realize(s->aux_bus);
 
     qdev_realize(DEVICE(s->dpcd), BUS(s->aux_bus), &error_fatal);
@@ -1320,8 +1324,6 @@ static void xlnx_dp_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     as.fmt = AUDIO_FORMAT_S16;
     as.endianness = 0;
 
-    AUD_register_card("xlnx_dp.audio", &s->aud_card);
-
     s->amixer_output_stream = AUD_open_out(&s->aud_card,
                                            s->amixer_output_stream,
                                            "xlnx_dp.audio.out",
diff --git a/hw/input/tsc210x.c b/hw/input/tsc210x.c
index e7960a50696..950506fb382 100644
--- a/hw/input/tsc210x.c
+++ b/hw/input/tsc210x.c
@@ -1102,7 +1102,7 @@ static void tsc210x_init(TSC210xState *s,
         s->card.name = g_strdup(current_machine->audiodev);
         s->card.state = audio_state_by_name(s->card.name, &error_fatal);
     }
-    AUD_register_card(s->name, &s->card);
+    AUD_register_card(s->name, &s->card, &error_fatal);
 
     qemu_register_reset((void *) tsc210x_reset, s);
     vmstate_register(NULL, 0, vmsd, s);
diff --git a/hw/usb/dev-audio.c b/hw/usb/dev-audio.c
index 8748c1ba040..d5ac1f8962e 100644
--- a/hw/usb/dev-audio.c
+++ b/hw/usb/dev-audio.c
@@ -944,12 +944,15 @@ static void usb_audio_realize(USBDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     USBAudioState *s = USB_AUDIO(dev);
     int i;
 
+    if (!AUD_register_card(TYPE_USB_AUDIO, &s->card, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     dev->usb_desc = s->multi ? &desc_audio_multi : &desc_audio;
 
     usb_desc_create_serial(dev);
     usb_desc_init(dev);
     s->dev.opaque = s;
-    AUD_register_card(TYPE_USB_AUDIO, &s->card);
 
     s->out.altset        = ALTSET_OFF;
     s->out.vol.mute      = false;
