diff --git a/qemu-img.c b/qemu-img.c
index e2952fe955..babb5573ab 100644
--- a/qemu-img.c
+++ b/qemu-img.c
@@ -226,23 +226,6 @@ static void QEMU_NORETURN help(void)
     exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 }
 
-static QemuOptsList qemu_object_opts = {
-    .name = "object",
-    .implied_opt_name = "qom-type",
-    .head = QTAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(qemu_object_opts.head),
-    .desc = {
-        { }
-    },
-};
-
-static bool qemu_img_object_print_help(const char *type, QemuOpts *opts)
-{
-    if (user_creatable_print_help(type, opts)) {
-        exit(0);
-    }
-    return true;
-}
-
 /*
  * Is @optarg safe for accumulate_options()?
  * It is when multiple of them can be joined together separated by ','.
@@ -566,14 +549,9 @@ static int img_create(int argc, char **argv)
         case 'u':
             flags |= BDRV_O_NO_BACKING;
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *opts;
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                goto fail;
-            }
-        }   break;
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
+            break;
         }
     }
 
@@ -589,12 +567,6 @@ static int img_create(int argc, char **argv)
     }
     optind++;
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        goto fail;
-    }
-
     /* Get image size, if specified */
     if (optind < argc) {
         int64_t sval;
@@ -804,14 +776,9 @@ static int img_check(int argc, char **argv)
         case 'U':
             force_share = true;
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *opts;
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                return 1;
-            }
-        }   break;
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
+            break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
             break;
@@ -831,12 +798,6 @@ static int img_check(int argc, char **argv)
         return 1;
     }
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        return 1;
-    }
-
     ret = bdrv_parse_cache_mode(cache, &flags, &writethrough);
     if (ret < 0) {
         error_report("Invalid source cache option: %s", cache);
@@ -1034,14 +995,9 @@ static int img_commit(int argc, char **argv)
                 return 1;
             }
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *opts;
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                return 1;
-            }
-        }   break;
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
+            break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
             break;
@@ -1058,12 +1014,6 @@ static int img_commit(int argc, char **argv)
     }
     filename = argv[optind++];
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        return 1;
-    }
-
     flags = BDRV_O_RDWR | BDRV_O_UNMAP;
     ret = bdrv_parse_cache_mode(cache, &flags, &writethrough);
     if (ret < 0) {
@@ -1353,7 +1303,7 @@ static int check_empty_sectors(BlockBackend *blk, int64_t offset,
 /*
  * Compares two images. Exit codes:
  *
- * 0 - Images are identical
+ * 0 - Images are identical or the requested help was printed
  * 1 - Images differ
  * >1 - Error occurred
  */
@@ -1423,15 +1373,21 @@ static int img_compare(int argc, char **argv)
         case 'U':
             force_share = true;
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *opts;
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                ret = 2;
-                goto out4;
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            {
+                Error *local_err = NULL;
+
+                if (!user_creatable_add_from_str(optarg, &local_err)) {
+                    if (local_err) {
+                        error_report_err(local_err);
+                        exit(2);
+                    } else {
+                        /* Help was printed */
+                        exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+                    }
+                }
+                break;
             }
-        }   break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
             break;
@@ -1450,13 +1406,6 @@ static int img_compare(int argc, char **argv)
     filename1 = argv[optind++];
     filename2 = argv[optind++];
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        ret = 2;
-        goto out4;
-    }
-
     /* Initialize before goto out */
     qemu_progress_init(progress, 2.0);
 
@@ -1641,7 +1590,6 @@ out2:
     blk_unref(blk1);
 out3:
     qemu_progress_end();
-out4:
     return ret;
 }
 
@@ -2342,15 +2290,9 @@ static int img_convert(int argc, char **argv)
                 goto fail_getopt;
             }
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *object_opts;
-            object_opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                                  optarg, true);
-            if (!object_opts) {
-                goto fail_getopt;
-            }
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
             break;
-        }
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
             break;
@@ -2378,12 +2320,6 @@ static int img_convert(int argc, char **argv)
         out_fmt = "raw";
     }
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        goto fail_getopt;
-    }
-
     if (s.compressed && s.copy_range) {
         error_report("Cannot enable copy offloading when -c is used");
         goto fail_getopt;
@@ -2971,14 +2907,9 @@ static int img_info(int argc, char **argv)
         case OPTION_BACKING_CHAIN:
             chain = true;
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *opts;
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                return 1;
-            }
-        }   break;
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
+            break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
             break;
@@ -2998,12 +2929,6 @@ static int img_info(int argc, char **argv)
         return 1;
     }
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        return 1;
-    }
-
     list = collect_image_info_list(image_opts, filename, fmt, chain,
                                    force_share);
     if (!list) {
@@ -3213,14 +3138,9 @@ static int img_map(int argc, char **argv)
                 return 1;
             }
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *opts;
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                return 1;
-            }
-        }   break;
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
+            break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
             break;
@@ -3240,12 +3160,6 @@ static int img_map(int argc, char **argv)
         return 1;
     }
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        return 1;
-    }
-
     blk = img_open(image_opts, filename, fmt, 0, false, false, force_share);
     if (!blk) {
         return 1;
@@ -3384,14 +3298,9 @@ static int img_snapshot(int argc, char **argv)
         case 'U':
             force_share = true;
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *opts;
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                return 1;
-            }
-        }   break;
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
+            break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
             break;
@@ -3403,12 +3312,6 @@ static int img_snapshot(int argc, char **argv)
     }
     filename = argv[optind++];
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        return 1;
-    }
-
     /* Open the image */
     blk = img_open(image_opts, filename, NULL, bdrv_oflags, false, quiet,
                    force_share);
@@ -3542,14 +3445,9 @@ static int img_rebase(int argc, char **argv)
         case 'q':
             quiet = true;
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *opts;
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                return 1;
-            }
-        }   break;
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
+            break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
             break;
@@ -3571,12 +3469,6 @@ static int img_rebase(int argc, char **argv)
     }
     filename = argv[optind++];
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        return 1;
-    }
-
     qemu_progress_init(progress, 2.0);
     qemu_progress_print(0, 100);
 
@@ -3967,14 +3859,9 @@ static int img_resize(int argc, char **argv)
         case 'q':
             quiet = true;
             break;
-        case OPTION_OBJECT: {
-            QemuOpts *opts;
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                return 1;
-            }
-        }   break;
+        case OPTION_OBJECT:
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
+            break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
             break;
@@ -3996,12 +3883,6 @@ static int img_resize(int argc, char **argv)
     }
     filename = argv[optind++];
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        return 1;
-    }
-
     /* Choose grow, shrink, or absolute resize mode */
     switch (size[0]) {
     case '+':
@@ -4181,12 +4062,7 @@ static int img_amend(int argc, char **argv)
             quiet = true;
             break;
         case OPTION_OBJECT:
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                           optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                ret = -1;
-                goto out_no_progress;
-            }
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
             break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
@@ -4201,13 +4077,6 @@ static int img_amend(int argc, char **argv)
         error_exit("Must specify options (-o)");
     }
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        ret = -1;
-        goto out_no_progress;
-    }
-
     if (quiet) {
         progress = false;
     }
@@ -4760,10 +4629,7 @@ static int img_bitmap(int argc, char **argv)
             merge = true;
             break;
         case OPTION_OBJECT:
-            opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts, optarg, true);
-            if (!opts) {
-                goto out;
-            }
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
             break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
@@ -4771,12 +4637,6 @@ static int img_bitmap(int argc, char **argv)
         }
     }
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        goto out;
-    }
-
     if (QSIMPLEQ_EMPTY(&actions)) {
         error_report("Need at least one of --add, --remove, --clear, "
                      "--enable, --disable, or --merge");
@@ -5034,10 +4894,7 @@ static int img_dd(int argc, char **argv)
             force_share = true;
             break;
         case OPTION_OBJECT:
-            if (!qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts, optarg, true)) {
-                ret = -1;
-                goto out;
-            }
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
             break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
@@ -5084,13 +4941,6 @@ static int img_dd(int argc, char **argv)
         goto out;
     }
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        ret = -1;
-        goto out;
-    }
-
     blk1 = img_open(image_opts, in.filename, fmt, 0, false, false,
                     force_share);
 
@@ -5311,11 +5161,7 @@ static int img_measure(int argc, char **argv)
             force_share = true;
             break;
         case OPTION_OBJECT:
-            object_opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&qemu_object_opts,
-                                                  optarg, true);
-            if (!object_opts) {
-                goto out;
-            }
+            user_creatable_process_cmdline(optarg);
             break;
         case OPTION_IMAGE_OPTS:
             image_opts = true;
@@ -5345,12 +5191,6 @@ static int img_measure(int argc, char **argv)
         }
     }
 
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(&qemu_object_opts,
-                          user_creatable_add_opts_foreach,
-                          qemu_img_object_print_help, &error_fatal)) {
-        goto out;
-    }
-
     if (argc - optind > 1) {
         error_report("At most one filename argument is allowed.");
         goto out;
@@ -5490,7 +5330,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         error_exit("Not enough arguments");
     }
 
-    qemu_add_opts(&qemu_object_opts);
     qemu_add_opts(&qemu_source_opts);
     qemu_add_opts(&qemu_trace_opts);
 
