diff --git a/hw/qdev.h b/hw/qdev.h
index b385b25b46..8cd843e763 100644
--- a/hw/qdev.h
+++ b/hw/qdev.h
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ struct CompatProperty {
 
 DeviceState *qdev_create(BusState *bus, const char *name);
 DeviceState *qdev_device_add(QemuOpts *opts);
-int qdev_init(DeviceState *dev);
+int qdev_init(DeviceState *dev) __attribute__((warn_unused_result));
 void qdev_init_nofail(DeviceState *dev);
 int qdev_unplug(DeviceState *dev);
 void qdev_free(DeviceState *dev);