diff --git a/hw/char/virtio-console.c b/hw/char/virtio-console.c
index 73e18f2..ffd29a8 100644
--- a/hw/char/virtio-console.c
+++ b/hw/char/virtio-console.c
@@ -126,14 +126,16 @@ static void chr_event(void *opaque, int event)
     }
 }
 
-static int virtconsole_initfn(VirtIOSerialPort *port)
+static void virtconsole_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 {
-    VirtConsole *vcon = VIRTIO_CONSOLE(port);
-    VirtIOSerialPortClass *k = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT_GET_CLASS(port);
+    VirtIOSerialPort *port = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT(dev);
+    VirtConsole *vcon = VIRTIO_CONSOLE(dev);
+    VirtIOSerialPortClass *k = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT_GET_CLASS(dev);
 
     if (port->id == 0 && !k->is_console) {
-        error_report("Port number 0 on virtio-serial devices reserved for virtconsole devices for backward compatibility.");
-        return -1;
+        error_setg(errp, "Port number 0 on virtio-serial devices reserved "
+                   "for virtconsole devices for backward compatibility.");
+        return;
     }
 
     if (vcon->chr) {
@@ -141,19 +143,15 @@ static int virtconsole_initfn(VirtIOSerialPort *port)
         qemu_chr_add_handlers(vcon->chr, chr_can_read, chr_read, chr_event,
                               vcon);
     }
-
-    return 0;
 }
 
-static int virtconsole_exitfn(VirtIOSerialPort *port)
+static void virtconsole_unrealize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 {
-    VirtConsole *vcon = VIRTIO_CONSOLE(port);
+    VirtConsole *vcon = VIRTIO_CONSOLE(dev);
 
     if (vcon->watch) {
         g_source_remove(vcon->watch);
     }
-
-    return 0;
 }
 
 static Property virtconsole_properties[] = {
@@ -167,8 +165,8 @@ static void virtconsole_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     VirtIOSerialPortClass *k = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT_CLASS(klass);
 
     k->is_console = true;
-    k->init = virtconsole_initfn;
-    k->exit = virtconsole_exitfn;
+    k->realize = virtconsole_realize;
+    k->unrealize = virtconsole_unrealize;
     k->have_data = flush_buf;
     k->set_guest_connected = set_guest_connected;
     dc->props = virtconsole_properties;
@@ -191,8 +189,8 @@ static void virtserialport_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     DeviceClass *dc = DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
     VirtIOSerialPortClass *k = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT_CLASS(klass);
 
-    k->init = virtconsole_initfn;
-    k->exit = virtconsole_exitfn;
+    k->realize = virtconsole_realize;
+    k->unrealize = virtconsole_unrealize;
     k->have_data = flush_buf;
     k->set_guest_connected = set_guest_connected;
     dc->props = virtserialport_properties;
diff --git a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
index 226e9f9..2b647b6 100644
--- a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
+++ b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
@@ -808,13 +808,14 @@ static void remove_port(VirtIOSerial *vser, uint32_t port_id)
     send_control_event(vser, port->id, VIRTIO_CONSOLE_PORT_REMOVE, 1);
 }
 
-static int virtser_port_qdev_init(DeviceState *qdev)
+static void virtser_port_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 {
-    VirtIOSerialPort *port = DO_UPCAST(VirtIOSerialPort, dev, qdev);
+    VirtIOSerialPort *port = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT(dev);
     VirtIOSerialPortClass *vsc = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT_GET_CLASS(port);
-    VirtIOSerialBus *bus = DO_UPCAST(VirtIOSerialBus, qbus, qdev->parent_bus);
-    int ret, max_nr_ports;
+    VirtIOSerialBus *bus = VIRTIO_SERIAL_BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(dev));
+    int max_nr_ports;
     bool plugging_port0;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
     port->vser = bus->vser;
     port->bh = qemu_bh_new(flush_queued_data_bh, port);
@@ -829,9 +830,9 @@ static int virtser_port_qdev_init(DeviceState *qdev)
     plugging_port0 = vsc->is_console && !find_port_by_id(port->vser, 0);
 
     if (find_port_by_id(port->vser, port->id)) {
-        error_report("virtio-serial-bus: A port already exists at id %u",
-                     port->id);
-        return -1;
+        error_setg(errp, "virtio-serial-bus: A port already exists at id %u",
+                   port->id);
+        return;
     }
 
     if (port->id == VIRTIO_CONSOLE_BAD_ID) {
@@ -840,22 +841,24 @@ static int virtser_port_qdev_init(DeviceState *qdev)
         } else {
             port->id = find_free_port_id(port->vser);
             if (port->id == VIRTIO_CONSOLE_BAD_ID) {
-                error_report("virtio-serial-bus: Maximum port limit for this device reached");
-                return -1;
+                error_setg(errp, "virtio-serial-bus: Maximum port limit for "
+                                 "this device reached");
+                return;
             }
         }
     }
 
     max_nr_ports = tswap32(port->vser->config.max_nr_ports);
     if (port->id >= max_nr_ports) {
-        error_report("virtio-serial-bus: Out-of-range port id specified, max. allowed: %u",
-                     max_nr_ports - 1);
-        return -1;
+        error_setg(errp, "virtio-serial-bus: Out-of-range port id specified, "
+                         "max. allowed: %u", max_nr_ports - 1);
+        return;
     }
 
-    ret = vsc->init(port);
-    if (ret) {
-        return ret;
+    vsc->realize(dev, &err);
+    if (err != NULL) {
+        error_propagate(errp, err);
+        return;
     }
 
     port->elem.out_num = 0;
@@ -868,14 +871,12 @@ static int virtser_port_qdev_init(DeviceState *qdev)
 
     /* Send an update to the guest about this new port added */
     virtio_notify_config(VIRTIO_DEVICE(port->vser));
-
-    return ret;
 }
 
-static int virtser_port_qdev_exit(DeviceState *qdev)
+static void virtser_port_device_unrealize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 {
-    VirtIOSerialPort *port = DO_UPCAST(VirtIOSerialPort, dev, qdev);
-    VirtIOSerialPortClass *vsc = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT_GET_CLASS(port);
+    VirtIOSerialPort *port = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT(dev);
+    VirtIOSerialPortClass *vsc = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT_GET_CLASS(dev);
     VirtIOSerial *vser = port->vser;
 
     qemu_bh_delete(port->bh);
@@ -883,10 +884,9 @@ static int virtser_port_qdev_exit(DeviceState *qdev)
 
     QTAILQ_REMOVE(&vser->ports, port, next);
 
-    if (vsc->exit) {
-        vsc->exit(port);
+    if (vsc->unrealize) {
+        vsc->unrealize(dev, errp);
     }
-    return 0;
 }
 
 static void virtio_serial_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
@@ -971,10 +971,11 @@ static void virtio_serial_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 static void virtio_serial_port_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
 {
     DeviceClass *k = DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
-    k->init = virtser_port_qdev_init;
+
     set_bit(DEVICE_CATEGORY_INPUT, k->categories);
     k->bus_type = TYPE_VIRTIO_SERIAL_BUS;
-    k->exit = virtser_port_qdev_exit;
+    k->realize = virtser_port_device_realize;
+    k->unrealize = virtser_port_device_unrealize;
     k->unplug = qdev_simple_unplug_cb;
     k->props = virtser_props;
 }
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
index 1d2040b..4746312 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
@@ -81,15 +81,15 @@ typedef struct VirtIOSerialPortClass {
     bool is_console;
 
     /*
-     * The per-port (or per-app) init function that's called when a
+     * The per-port (or per-app) realize function that's called when a
      * new device is found on the bus.
      */
-    int (*init)(VirtIOSerialPort *port);
+    DeviceRealize realize;
     /*
-     * Per-port exit function that's called when a port gets
+     * Per-port unrealize function that's called when a port gets
      * hot-unplugged or removed.
      */
-    int (*exit)(VirtIOSerialPort *port);
+    DeviceUnrealize unrealize;
 
     /* Callbacks for guest events */
         /* Guest opened/closed device. */
