diff --git a/include/exec/memory.h b/include/exec/memory.h
index faddf8f073..c39819ec75 100644
--- a/include/exec/memory.h
+++ b/include/exec/memory.h
@@ -1376,8 +1376,10 @@ bool memory_region_init_resizeable_ram(MemoryRegion *mr,
  *
  * Note that this function does not do anything to cause the data in the
  * RAM memory region to be migrated; that is the responsibility of the caller.
+ *
+ * Return: true on success, else false setting @errp with error.
  */
-void memory_region_init_ram_from_file(MemoryRegion *mr,
+bool memory_region_init_ram_from_file(MemoryRegion *mr,
                                       Object *owner,
                                       const char *name,
                                       uint64_t size,
diff --git a/system/memory.c b/system/memory.c
index 75303484e1..e05d88aa67 100644
--- a/system/memory.c
+++ b/system/memory.c
@@ -1605,7 +1605,7 @@ bool memory_region_init_resizeable_ram(MemoryRegion *mr,
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_POSIX
-void memory_region_init_ram_from_file(MemoryRegion *mr,
+bool memory_region_init_ram_from_file(MemoryRegion *mr,
                                       Object *owner,
                                       const char *name,
                                       uint64_t size,
@@ -1628,7 +1628,9 @@ void memory_region_init_ram_from_file(MemoryRegion *mr,
         mr->size = int128_zero();
         object_unparent(OBJECT(mr));
         error_propagate(errp, err);
+        return false;
     }
+    return true;
 }
 
 void memory_region_init_ram_from_fd(MemoryRegion *mr,