diff --git a/accel/tcg/user-exec-stub.c b/accel/tcg/user-exec-stub.c
index a32b4496af..f8c38a375c 100644
--- a/accel/tcg/user-exec-stub.c
+++ b/accel/tcg/user-exec-stub.c
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ void cpu_resume(CPUState *cpu)
 {
 }
 
-void qemu_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
+bool qemu_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp)
 {
+    return true;
 }
 
 /* User mode emulation does not support record/replay yet.  */
diff --git a/cpus.c b/cpus.c
index 2c70c06da8..fe58940407 100644
--- a/cpus.c
+++ b/cpus.c
@@ -1932,7 +1932,7 @@ void cpu_remove_sync(CPUState *cpu)
 /* For temporary buffers for forming a name */
 #define VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE 16
 
-static void qemu_tcg_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
+static void qemu_tcg_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp)
 {
     char thread_name[VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE];
     static QemuCond *single_tcg_halt_cond;
@@ -1962,17 +1962,20 @@ static void qemu_tcg_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
             snprintf(thread_name, VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE, "CPU %d/TCG",
                  cpu->cpu_index);
 
-            /* TODO: let the callers handle the error instead of abort() here */
-            qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name, qemu_tcg_cpu_thread_fn,
-                               cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, &error_abort);
+            if (qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name,
+                                   qemu_tcg_cpu_thread_fn, cpu,
+                                   QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, errp) < 0) {
+                return;
+            }
 
         } else {
             /* share a single thread for all cpus with TCG */
             snprintf(thread_name, VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE, "ALL CPUs/TCG");
-            /* TODO: let the callers handle the error instead of abort() here */
-            qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name,
-                               qemu_tcg_rr_cpu_thread_fn,
-                               cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, &error_abort);
+            if (qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name,
+                                   qemu_tcg_rr_cpu_thread_fn, cpu,
+                                   QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, errp) < 0) {
+                return;
+            }
 
             single_tcg_halt_cond = cpu->halt_cond;
             single_tcg_cpu_thread = cpu->thread;
@@ -1990,7 +1993,7 @@ static void qemu_tcg_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
     }
 }
 
-static void qemu_hax_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
+static void qemu_hax_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp)
 {
     char thread_name[VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE];
 
@@ -2000,15 +2003,16 @@ static void qemu_hax_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
 
     snprintf(thread_name, VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE, "CPU %d/HAX",
              cpu->cpu_index);
-    /* TODO: let the further caller handle the error instead of abort() here */
-    qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name, qemu_hax_cpu_thread_fn,
-                       cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, &error_abort);
+    if (qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name, qemu_hax_cpu_thread_fn,
+                           cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, errp) < 0) {
+        return;
+    }
 #ifdef _WIN32
     cpu->hThread = qemu_thread_get_handle(cpu->thread);
 #endif
 }
 
-static void qemu_kvm_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
+static void qemu_kvm_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp)
 {
     char thread_name[VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE];
 
@@ -2017,12 +2021,11 @@ static void qemu_kvm_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
     qemu_cond_init(cpu->halt_cond);
     snprintf(thread_name, VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE, "CPU %d/KVM",
              cpu->cpu_index);
-    /* TODO: let the further caller handle the error instead of abort() here */
     qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name, qemu_kvm_cpu_thread_fn,
-                       cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, &error_abort);
+                       cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, errp);
 }
 
-static void qemu_hvf_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
+static void qemu_hvf_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp)
 {
     char thread_name[VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE];
 
@@ -2036,12 +2039,11 @@ static void qemu_hvf_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
 
     snprintf(thread_name, VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE, "CPU %d/HVF",
              cpu->cpu_index);
-    /* TODO: let the further caller handle the error instead of abort() here */
     qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name, qemu_hvf_cpu_thread_fn,
-                       cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, &error_abort);
+                       cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, errp);
 }
 
-static void qemu_whpx_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
+static void qemu_whpx_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp)
 {
     char thread_name[VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE];
 
@@ -2050,15 +2052,16 @@ static void qemu_whpx_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
     qemu_cond_init(cpu->halt_cond);
     snprintf(thread_name, VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE, "CPU %d/WHPX",
              cpu->cpu_index);
-    /* TODO: let the further caller handle the error instead of abort() here */
-    qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name, qemu_whpx_cpu_thread_fn,
-                       cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, &error_abort);
+    if (qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name, qemu_whpx_cpu_thread_fn,
+                           cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, errp) < 0) {
+        return;
+    }
 #ifdef _WIN32
     cpu->hThread = qemu_thread_get_handle(cpu->thread);
 #endif
 }
 
-static void qemu_dummy_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
+static void qemu_dummy_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp)
 {
     char thread_name[VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE];
 
@@ -2067,16 +2070,16 @@ static void qemu_dummy_start_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
     qemu_cond_init(cpu->halt_cond);
     snprintf(thread_name, VCPU_THREAD_NAME_SIZE, "CPU %d/DUMMY",
              cpu->cpu_index);
-    /* TODO: let the further caller handle the error instead of abort() here */
     qemu_thread_create(cpu->thread, thread_name, qemu_dummy_cpu_thread_fn,
-                       cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, &error_abort);
+                       cpu, QEMU_THREAD_JOINABLE, errp);
 }
 
-void qemu_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
+bool qemu_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp)
 {
     cpu->nr_cores = smp_cores;
     cpu->nr_threads = smp_threads;
     cpu->stopped = true;
+    Error *local_err = NULL;
 
     if (!cpu->as) {
         /* If the target cpu hasn't set up any address spaces itself,
@@ -2087,22 +2090,29 @@ void qemu_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu)
     }
 
     if (kvm_enabled()) {
-        qemu_kvm_start_vcpu(cpu);
+        qemu_kvm_start_vcpu(cpu, &local_err);
     } else if (hax_enabled()) {
-        qemu_hax_start_vcpu(cpu);
+        qemu_hax_start_vcpu(cpu, &local_err);
     } else if (hvf_enabled()) {
-        qemu_hvf_start_vcpu(cpu);
+        qemu_hvf_start_vcpu(cpu, &local_err);
     } else if (tcg_enabled()) {
-        qemu_tcg_init_vcpu(cpu);
+        qemu_tcg_init_vcpu(cpu, &local_err);
     } else if (whpx_enabled()) {
-        qemu_whpx_start_vcpu(cpu);
+        qemu_whpx_start_vcpu(cpu, &local_err);
     } else {
-        qemu_dummy_start_vcpu(cpu);
+        qemu_dummy_start_vcpu(cpu, &local_err);
+    }
+
+    if (local_err) {
+        error_propagate(errp, local_err);
+        return false;
     }
 
     while (!cpu->created) {
         qemu_cond_wait(&qemu_cpu_cond, &qemu_global_mutex);
     }
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 void cpu_stop_current(void)
diff --git a/include/qom/cpu.h b/include/qom/cpu.h
index 1d6099e5d4..a6fa9aabbd 100644
--- a/include/qom/cpu.h
+++ b/include/qom/cpu.h
@@ -1026,7 +1026,7 @@ void end_exclusive(void);
  *
  * Initializes a vCPU.
  */
-void qemu_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu);
+bool qemu_init_vcpu(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp);
 
 #define SSTEP_ENABLE  0x1  /* Enable simulated HW single stepping */
 #define SSTEP_NOIRQ   0x2  /* Do not use IRQ while single stepping */
diff --git a/target/alpha/cpu.c b/target/alpha/cpu.c
index 1fd95d6c0f..7d24ee1f31 100644
--- a/target/alpha/cpu.c
+++ b/target/alpha/cpu.c
@@ -66,7 +66,9 @@ static void alpha_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     acc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/arm/cpu.c b/target/arm/cpu.c
index 96f0ff0ec7..b48a17a7e3 100644
--- a/target/arm/cpu.c
+++ b/target/arm/cpu.c
@@ -1201,7 +1201,9 @@ static void arm_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 #endif
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
     cpu_reset(cs);
 
     acc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
diff --git a/target/cris/cpu.c b/target/cris/cpu.c
index a23aba2688..ec92d69781 100644
--- a/target/cris/cpu.c
+++ b/target/cris/cpu.c
@@ -140,7 +140,9 @@ static void cris_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     cpu_reset(cs);
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     ccc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/hppa/cpu.c b/target/hppa/cpu.c
index 00bf444620..08f600ced9 100644
--- a/target/hppa/cpu.c
+++ b/target/hppa/cpu.c
@@ -98,7 +98,9 @@ static void hppa_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
     acc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
diff --git a/target/i386/cpu.c b/target/i386/cpu.c
index d6bb57d210..a56142abc7 100644
--- a/target/i386/cpu.c
+++ b/target/i386/cpu.c
@@ -5330,7 +5330,9 @@ static void x86_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 #endif
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     /*
      * Most Intel and certain AMD CPUs support hyperthreading. Even though QEMU
diff --git a/target/lm32/cpu.c b/target/lm32/cpu.c
index b7499cb627..d50b1e4a43 100644
--- a/target/lm32/cpu.c
+++ b/target/lm32/cpu.c
@@ -139,7 +139,9 @@ static void lm32_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     cpu_reset(cs);
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     lcc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/m68k/cpu.c b/target/m68k/cpu.c
index 582e3a73b3..4ab53f2d58 100644
--- a/target/m68k/cpu.c
+++ b/target/m68k/cpu.c
@@ -231,7 +231,9 @@ static void m68k_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     m68k_cpu_init_gdb(cpu);
 
     cpu_reset(cs);
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     mcc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/microblaze/cpu.c b/target/microblaze/cpu.c
index 5596cd5485..310e3d8fd5 100644
--- a/target/microblaze/cpu.c
+++ b/target/microblaze/cpu.c
@@ -161,7 +161,9 @@ static void mb_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     env->pvr.regs[0] = PVR0_USE_EXC_MASK \
                        | PVR0_USE_ICACHE_MASK \
diff --git a/target/mips/cpu.c b/target/mips/cpu.c
index e217fb3e36..1e5aa69c57 100644
--- a/target/mips/cpu.c
+++ b/target/mips/cpu.c
@@ -145,7 +145,9 @@ static void mips_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     cpu_mips_realize_env(&cpu->env);
 
     cpu_reset(cs);
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     mcc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/moxie/cpu.c b/target/moxie/cpu.c
index 46434e65ba..5d55fcf313 100644
--- a/target/moxie/cpu.c
+++ b/target/moxie/cpu.c
@@ -66,7 +66,9 @@ static void moxie_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
     cpu_reset(cs);
 
     mcc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
diff --git a/target/nios2/cpu.c b/target/nios2/cpu.c
index fbfaa2ce26..5c7b4b486e 100644
--- a/target/nios2/cpu.c
+++ b/target/nios2/cpu.c
@@ -94,7 +94,9 @@ static void nios2_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
     cpu_reset(cs);
 
     ncc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
diff --git a/target/openrisc/cpu.c b/target/openrisc/cpu.c
index 541b2a66c7..f8ec7deb38 100644
--- a/target/openrisc/cpu.c
+++ b/target/openrisc/cpu.c
@@ -83,7 +83,9 @@ static void openrisc_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
     cpu_reset(cs);
 
     occ->parent_realize(dev, errp);
diff --git a/target/ppc/translate_init.inc.c b/target/ppc/translate_init.inc.c
index 0bd555eb19..a100eacde0 100644
--- a/target/ppc/translate_init.inc.c
+++ b/target/ppc/translate_init.inc.c
@@ -9795,7 +9795,9 @@ static void ppc_cpu_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     gdb_register_coprocessor(cs, gdb_get_spr_reg, gdb_set_spr_reg,
                              pcc->gdb_num_sprs, "power-spr.xml", 0);
 #endif
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        goto unrealize;
+    }
 
     pcc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 
diff --git a/target/riscv/cpu.c b/target/riscv/cpu.c
index d61bce6d55..12d18d5ca5 100644
--- a/target/riscv/cpu.c
+++ b/target/riscv/cpu.c
@@ -307,7 +307,9 @@ static void riscv_cpu_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     riscv_cpu_register_gdb_regs_for_features(cs);
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
     cpu_reset(cs);
 
     mcc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
diff --git a/target/s390x/cpu.c b/target/s390x/cpu.c
index 698dd9cb82..9959f96b03 100644
--- a/target/s390x/cpu.c
+++ b/target/s390x/cpu.c
@@ -219,7 +219,9 @@ static void s390_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     qemu_register_reset(s390_cpu_machine_reset_cb, cpu);
 #endif
     s390_cpu_gdb_init(cs);
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     /*
      * KVM requires the initial CPU reset ioctl to be executed on the target
diff --git a/target/sh4/cpu.c b/target/sh4/cpu.c
index b9f393b7c7..d32ef2e1cb 100644
--- a/target/sh4/cpu.c
+++ b/target/sh4/cpu.c
@@ -196,7 +196,9 @@ static void superh_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     cpu_reset(cs);
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     scc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/sparc/cpu.c b/target/sparc/cpu.c
index 4a4445bdf5..a511c90dab 100644
--- a/target/sparc/cpu.c
+++ b/target/sparc/cpu.c
@@ -772,7 +772,9 @@ static void sparc_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     scc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/tilegx/cpu.c b/target/tilegx/cpu.c
index bfe9be59b5..234148fabd 100644
--- a/target/tilegx/cpu.c
+++ b/target/tilegx/cpu.c
@@ -92,7 +92,9 @@ static void tilegx_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     cpu_reset(cs);
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     tcc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/tricore/cpu.c b/target/tricore/cpu.c
index e8d37e4040..67e3eb03d9 100644
--- a/target/tricore/cpu.c
+++ b/target/tricore/cpu.c
@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ static void tricore_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         set_feature(env, TRICORE_FEATURE_13);
     }
     cpu_reset(cs);
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     tcc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/unicore32/cpu.c b/target/unicore32/cpu.c
index 2b49d1ca40..0c737c3187 100644
--- a/target/unicore32/cpu.c
+++ b/target/unicore32/cpu.c
@@ -96,7 +96,9 @@ static void uc32_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     ucc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
diff --git a/target/xtensa/cpu.c b/target/xtensa/cpu.c
index a54dbe4260..d2351c9b20 100644
--- a/target/xtensa/cpu.c
+++ b/target/xtensa/cpu.c
@@ -131,7 +131,9 @@ static void xtensa_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     cs->gdb_num_regs = xcc->config->gdb_regmap.num_regs;
 
-    qemu_init_vcpu(cs);
+    if (!qemu_init_vcpu(cs, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     xcc->parent_realize(dev, errp);
 }
