diff --git a/hw/core/qdev-properties.c b/hw/core/qdev-properties.c
index 92f48ecbf2..3bb05e7d0d 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev-properties.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev-properties.c
@@ -821,13 +821,13 @@ const PropertyInfo qdev_prop_size = {
 
 /* --- object link property --- */
 
-static void create_link_property(ObjectClass *oc, const char *name,
-                                 Property *prop)
+static ObjectProperty *create_link_property(ObjectClass *oc, const char *name,
+                                            Property *prop)
 {
-    object_class_property_add_link(oc, name, prop->link_type,
-                                   prop->offset,
-                                   qdev_prop_allow_set_link_before_realize,
-                                   OBJ_PROP_LINK_STRONG);
+    return object_class_property_add_link(oc, name, prop->link_type,
+                                          prop->offset,
+                                          qdev_prop_allow_set_link_before_realize,
+                                          OBJ_PROP_LINK_STRONG);
 }
 
 const PropertyInfo qdev_prop_link = {
diff --git a/include/hw/qdev-properties.h b/include/hw/qdev-properties.h
index ab9c538ba4..aae882317a 100644
--- a/include/hw/qdev-properties.h
+++ b/include/hw/qdev-properties.h
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ struct PropertyInfo {
     const QEnumLookup *enum_table;
     int (*print)(Object *obj, Property *prop, char *dest, size_t len);
     void (*set_default_value)(ObjectProperty *op, const Property *prop);
-    void (*create)(ObjectClass *oc, const char *name, Property *prop);
+    ObjectProperty *(*create)(ObjectClass *oc, const char *name,
+                              Property *prop);
     ObjectPropertyAccessor *get;
     ObjectPropertyAccessor *set;
     ObjectPropertyRelease *release;