diff --git a/include/sysemu/dma.h b/include/sysemu/dma.h
index 37cd9f1121..04687d8825 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/dma.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/dma.h
@@ -80,12 +80,13 @@ static inline bool dma_memory_valid(AddressSpace *as,
                                       MEMTXATTRS_UNSPECIFIED);
 }
 
-static inline int dma_memory_rw_relaxed(AddressSpace *as, dma_addr_t addr,
-                                        void *buf, dma_addr_t len,
-                                        DMADirection dir)
+static inline MemTxResult dma_memory_rw_relaxed(AddressSpace *as,
+                                                dma_addr_t addr,
+                                                void *buf, dma_addr_t len,
+                                                DMADirection dir)
 {
-    return (bool)address_space_rw(as, addr, MEMTXATTRS_UNSPECIFIED,
-                                  buf, len, dir == DMA_DIRECTION_FROM_DEVICE);
+    return address_space_rw(as, addr, MEMTXATTRS_UNSPECIFIED,
+                            buf, len, dir == DMA_DIRECTION_FROM_DEVICE);
 }
 
 static inline int dma_memory_read_relaxed(AddressSpace *as, dma_addr_t addr,
@@ -101,9 +102,22 @@ static inline int dma_memory_write_relaxed(AddressSpace *as, dma_addr_t addr,
                                  DMA_DIRECTION_FROM_DEVICE);
 }
 
-static inline int dma_memory_rw(AddressSpace *as, dma_addr_t addr,
-                                void *buf, dma_addr_t len,
-                                DMADirection dir)
+/**
+ * dma_memory_rw: Read from or write to an address space from DMA controller.
+ *
+ * Return a MemTxResult indicating whether the operation succeeded
+ * or failed (eg unassigned memory, device rejected the transaction,
+ * IOMMU fault).
+ *
+ * @as: #AddressSpace to be accessed
+ * @addr: address within that address space
+ * @buf: buffer with the data transferred
+ * @len: the number of bytes to read or write
+ * @dir: indicates the transfer direction
+ */
+static inline MemTxResult dma_memory_rw(AddressSpace *as, dma_addr_t addr,
+                                        void *buf, dma_addr_t len,
+                                        DMADirection dir)
 {
     dma_barrier(as, dir);