diff --git a/block/rbd.c b/block/rbd.c
index 8f183eba2a..6caf35cbba 100644
--- a/block/rbd.c
+++ b/block/rbd.c
@@ -1107,6 +1107,20 @@ static int coroutine_fn qemu_rbd_start_co(BlockDriverState *bs,
 
     assert(!qiov || qiov->size == bytes);
 
+    if (cmd == RBD_AIO_WRITE || cmd == RBD_AIO_WRITE_ZEROES) {
+        /*
+         * RBD APIs don't allow us to write more than actual size, so in order
+         * to support growing images, we resize the image before write
+         * operations that exceed the current size.
+         */
+        if (offset + bytes > s->image_size) {
+            int r = qemu_rbd_resize(bs, offset + bytes);
+            if (r < 0) {
+                return r;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     r = rbd_aio_create_completion(&task,
                                   (rbd_callback_t) qemu_rbd_completion_cb, &c);
     if (r < 0) {
@@ -1182,18 +1196,6 @@ coroutine_fn qemu_rbd_co_pwritev(BlockDriverState *bs, int64_t offset,
                                  int64_t bytes, QEMUIOVector *qiov,
                                  BdrvRequestFlags flags)
 {
-    BDRVRBDState *s = bs->opaque;
-    /*
-     * RBD APIs don't allow us to write more than actual size, so in order
-     * to support growing images, we resize the image before write
-     * operations that exceed the current size.
-     */
-    if (offset + bytes > s->image_size) {
-        int r = qemu_rbd_resize(bs, offset + bytes);
-        if (r < 0) {
-            return r;
-        }
-    }
     return qemu_rbd_start_co(bs, offset, bytes, qiov, flags, RBD_AIO_WRITE);
 }
 
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 282e7c4650..f71e1a1468 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ project('qemu', ['c'], meson_version: '>=0.59.3',
                           'b_staticpic=false', 'stdsplit=false'],
         version: files('VERSION'))
 
-add_test_setup('quick', exclude_suites: ['block', 'slow', 'thorough'], is_default: true)
-add_test_setup('slow', exclude_suites: ['block', 'thorough'], env: ['G_TEST_SLOW=1', 'SPEED=slow'])
-add_test_setup('thorough', exclude_suites: ['block'], env: ['G_TEST_SLOW=1', 'SPEED=thorough'])
+add_test_setup('quick', exclude_suites: ['slow', 'thorough'], is_default: true)
+add_test_setup('slow', exclude_suites: ['thorough'], env: ['G_TEST_SLOW=1', 'SPEED=slow'])
+add_test_setup('thorough', env: ['G_TEST_SLOW=1', 'SPEED=thorough'])
 
 not_found = dependency('', required: false)
 keyval = import('keyval')
diff --git a/python/qemu/utils/__init__.py b/python/qemu/utils/__init__.py
index 7f1a5138c4..9fb273b13d 100644
--- a/python/qemu/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/python/qemu/utils/__init__.py
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@ various tasks not directly related to the launching of a VM.
 # the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
 #
 
+import os
 import re
+import shutil
+from subprocess import CalledProcessError
+import textwrap
 from typing import Optional
 
 # pylint: disable=import-error
@@ -23,6 +27,8 @@ from .accel import kvm_available, list_accel, tcg_available
 
 
 __all__ = (
+    'VerboseProcessError',
+    'add_visual_margin',
     'get_info_usernet_hostfwd_port',
     'kvm_available',
     'list_accel',
@@ -43,3 +49,114 @@ def get_info_usernet_hostfwd_port(info_usernet_output: str) -> Optional[int]:
         if match is not None:
             return int(match[1])
     return None
+
+
+# pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
+def add_visual_margin(
+        content: str = '',
+        width: Optional[int] = None,
+        name: Optional[str] = None,
+        padding: int = 1,
+        upper_left: str = '┏',
+        lower_left: str = '┗',
+        horizontal: str = '━',
+        vertical: str = '┃',
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Decorate and wrap some text with a visual decoration around it.
+
+    This function assumes that the text decoration characters are single
+    characters that display using a single monospace column.
+
+    ┏━ Example ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
+    ┃ This is what this function looks like with text content that's
+    ┃ wrapped to 66 characters. The right-hand margin is left open to
+    ┃ accommodate the occasional unicode character that might make
+    ┃ predicting the total "visual" width of a line difficult. This
+    ┃ provides a visual distinction that's good-enough, though.
+    ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
+
+    :param content: The text to wrap and decorate.
+    :param width:
+        The number of columns to use, including for the decoration
+        itself. The default (None) uses the the available width of the
+        current terminal, or a fallback of 72 lines. A negative number
+        subtracts a fixed-width from the default size. The default obeys
+        the COLUMNS environment variable, if set.
+    :param name: A label to apply to the upper-left of the box.
+    :param padding: How many columns of padding to apply inside.
+    :param upper_left: Upper-left single-width text decoration character.
+    :param lower_left: Lower-left single-width text decoration character.
+    :param horizontal: Horizontal single-width text decoration character.
+    :param vertical: Vertical single-width text decoration character.
+    """
+    if width is None or width < 0:
+        avail = shutil.get_terminal_size(fallback=(72, 24))[0]
+        if width is None:
+            _width = avail
+        else:
+            _width = avail + width
+    else:
+        _width = width
+
+    prefix = vertical + (' ' * padding)
+
+    def _bar(name: Optional[str], top: bool = True) -> str:
+        ret = upper_left if top else lower_left
+        if name is not None:
+            ret += f"{horizontal} {name} "
+
+        filler_len = _width - len(ret)
+        ret += f"{horizontal * filler_len}"
+        return ret
+
+    def _wrap(line: str) -> str:
+        return os.linesep.join(
+            textwrap.wrap(
+                line, width=_width - padding, initial_indent=prefix,
+                subsequent_indent=prefix, replace_whitespace=False,
+                drop_whitespace=True, break_on_hyphens=False)
+        )
+
+    return os.linesep.join((
+        _bar(name, top=True),
+        os.linesep.join(_wrap(line) for line in content.splitlines()),
+        _bar(None, top=False),
+    ))
+
+
+class VerboseProcessError(CalledProcessError):
+    """
+    The same as CalledProcessError, but more verbose.
+
+    This is useful for debugging failed calls during test executions.
+    The return code, signal (if any), and terminal output will be displayed
+    on unhandled exceptions.
+    """
+    def summary(self) -> str:
+        """Return the normal CalledProcessError str() output."""
+        return super().__str__()
+
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        lmargin = '  '
+        width = -len(lmargin)
+        sections = []
+
+        # Does self.stdout contain both stdout and stderr?
+        has_combined_output = self.stderr is None
+
+        name = 'output' if has_combined_output else 'stdout'
+        if self.stdout:
+            sections.append(add_visual_margin(self.stdout, width, name))
+        else:
+            sections.append(f"{name}: N/A")
+
+        if self.stderr:
+            sections.append(add_visual_margin(self.stderr, width, 'stderr'))
+        elif not has_combined_output:
+            sections.append("stderr: N/A")
+
+        return os.linesep.join((
+            self.summary(),
+            textwrap.indent(os.linesep.join(sections), prefix=lmargin),
+        ))
diff --git a/scripts/mtest2make.py b/scripts/mtest2make.py
index 4d542e8aaa..304634b71e 100644
--- a/scripts/mtest2make.py
+++ b/scripts/mtest2make.py
@@ -101,10 +101,6 @@ targets = {t['id']: [os.path.relpath(f) for f in t['filename']]
 testsuites = defaultdict(Suite)
 for test in introspect['tests']:
     process_tests(test, targets, testsuites)
-# HACK: check-block is a separate target so that it runs with --verbose;
-# only write the dependencies
-emit_suite_deps('block', testsuites['block'], 'check')
-del testsuites['block']
 emit_prolog(testsuites, 'check')
 for name, suite in testsuites.items():
     emit_suite(name, suite, 'check')
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.include b/tests/Makefile.include
index e7153c8e91..b89018cdcc 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.include
+++ b/tests/Makefile.include
@@ -147,16 +147,9 @@ check-acceptance: check-acceptance-deprecated-warning | check-avocado
 
 # Consolidated targets
 
-.PHONY: check-block check check-clean get-vm-images
+.PHONY: check check-clean get-vm-images
 check:
 
-ifneq ($(.check-block.deps),)
-check: check-block
-check-block: run-ninja
-	$(if $(MAKE.n),,+)$(MESON) test $(MTESTARGS) $(.mtestargs) --verbose \
-		--logbase iotestslog $(call .speed.$(SPEED), block block-slow block-thorough)
-endif
-
 check-build: run-ninja
 
 check-clean:
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/041 b/tests/qemu-iotests/041
index db9f5dc540..3e16acee56 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/041
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/041
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import os
 import re
 import json
 import iotests
-from iotests import qemu_img, qemu_img_pipe, qemu_io
+from iotests import qemu_img, qemu_img_map, qemu_io
 
 backing_img = os.path.join(iotests.test_dir, 'backing.img')
 target_backing_img = os.path.join(iotests.test_dir, 'target-backing.img')
@@ -1360,8 +1360,7 @@ class TestFilters(iotests.QMPTestCase):
 
         self.vm.qmp('blockdev-del', node_name='target')
 
-        target_map = qemu_img_pipe('map', '--output=json', target_img)
-        target_map = json.loads(target_map)
+        target_map = qemu_img_map(target_img)
 
         assert target_map[0]['start'] == 0
         assert target_map[0]['length'] == 512 * 1024
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/065 b/tests/qemu-iotests/065
index f7c1b68dad..ba94e19349 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/065
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/065
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import os
 import re
 import json
 import iotests
-from iotests import qemu_img, qemu_img_pipe
+from iotests import qemu_img, qemu_img_info
 import unittest
 
 test_img = os.path.join(iotests.test_dir, 'test.img')
@@ -49,13 +49,12 @@ class TestQemuImgInfo(TestImageInfoSpecific):
     human_compare = None
 
     def test_json(self):
-        data = json.loads(qemu_img_pipe('info', '--output=json', test_img))
-        data = data['format-specific']
+        data = qemu_img_info(test_img)['format-specific']
         self.assertEqual(data['type'], iotests.imgfmt)
         self.assertEqual(data['data'], self.json_compare)
 
     def test_human(self):
-        data = qemu_img_pipe('info', '--output=human', test_img).split('\n')
+        data = qemu_img('info', '--output=human', test_img).stdout.split('\n')
         data = data[(data.index('Format specific information:') + 1)
                     :data.index('')]
         for field in data:
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/149 b/tests/qemu-iotests/149
index d49646ca60..9bb96d6a1d 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/149
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/149
@@ -265,8 +265,11 @@ def qemu_img_create(config, size_mb):
             "%dM" % size_mb]
 
     iotests.log("qemu-img " + " ".join(args), filters=[iotests.filter_test_dir])
-    iotests.log(check_cipher_support(config, iotests.qemu_img_pipe(*args)),
-                filters=[iotests.filter_test_dir])
+    try:
+        iotests.qemu_img(*args)
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as exc:
+        check_cipher_support(config, exc.output)
+        raise
 
 def qemu_io_image_args(config, dev=False):
     """Get the args for access an image or device with qemu-io"""
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/149.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/149.out
index ab879596ce..2cc5b82f7c 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/149.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/149.out
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-xts-plain64-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha1.img qiotest-145-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -180,7 +179,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-twofish-256-xts-plain64-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img twofish-256-xts-plain64-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=twofish-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-twofish-256-xts-plain64-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-twofish-256-xts-plain64-sha1.img qiotest-145-twofish-256-xts-plain64-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -299,7 +297,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-serpent-256-xts-plain64-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img serpent-256-xts-plain64-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=serpent-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-serpent-256-xts-plain64-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-serpent-256-xts-plain64-sha1.img qiotest-145-serpent-256-xts-plain64-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -418,7 +415,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-cast5-128-cbc-plain64-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img cast5-128-cbc-plain64-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=cast5-128,cipher-mode=cbc,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-cast5-128-cbc-plain64-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-cast5-128-cbc-plain64-sha1.img qiotest-145-cast5-128-cbc-plain64-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -538,7 +534,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-plain-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-cbc-plain-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=cbc,ivgen-alg=plain,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-plain-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-plain-sha1.img qiotest-145-aes-256-cbc-plain-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -657,7 +652,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=cbc,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha1.img qiotest-145-aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -776,7 +770,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-essiv-sha256-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-cbc-essiv-sha256-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=cbc,ivgen-alg=essiv,hash-alg=sha1,ivgen-hash-alg=sha256 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-essiv-sha256-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-essiv-sha256-sha1.img qiotest-145-aes-256-cbc-essiv-sha256-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -895,7 +888,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-essiv-sha256-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-xts-essiv-sha256-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=essiv,hash-alg=sha1,ivgen-hash-alg=sha256 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-essiv-sha256-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-essiv-sha256-sha1.img qiotest-145-aes-256-xts-essiv-sha256-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -1014,7 +1006,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-128-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-128-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-128,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-128-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-128-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1.img qiotest-145-aes-128-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -1133,7 +1124,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-192-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-192-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-192,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-192-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-192-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1.img qiotest-145-aes-192-xts-plain64-sha256-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -1252,7 +1242,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-twofish-128-xts-plain64-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img twofish-128-xts-plain64-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=twofish-128,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-twofish-128-xts-plain64-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-twofish-128-xts-plain64-sha1.img qiotest-145-twofish-128-xts-plain64-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -1372,7 +1361,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-serpent-128-xts-plain64-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img serpent-128-xts-plain64-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=serpent-128,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-serpent-128-xts-plain64-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-serpent-128-xts-plain64-sha1.img qiotest-145-serpent-128-xts-plain64-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -1491,7 +1479,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-serpent-192-xts-plain64-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img serpent-192-xts-plain64-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=serpent-192,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-serpent-192-xts-plain64-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-serpent-192-xts-plain64-sha1.img qiotest-145-serpent-192-xts-plain64-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -1612,7 +1599,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha224.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-xts-plain64-sha224 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha224 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha224.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha224.img qiotest-145-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha224
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -1731,7 +1717,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha256.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-xts-plain64-sha256 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha256 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha256.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha256.img qiotest-145-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha256
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -1850,7 +1835,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha384.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-xts-plain64-sha384 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha384 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha384.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha384.img qiotest-145-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha384
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -1969,7 +1953,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha512.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-xts-plain64-sha512 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha512 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha512.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha512.img qiotest-145-aes-256-xts-plain64-sha512
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -2088,7 +2071,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-ripemd160.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-xts-plain64-ripemd160 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=ripemd160 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-ripemd160.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain64-ripemd160.img qiotest-145-aes-256-xts-plain64-ripemd160
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -2281,7 +2263,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain-sha1-pwallslots.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-xts-plain-sha1-pwallslots =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=c2xvdDE=,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=xts,ivgen-alg=plain,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain-sha1-pwallslots.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-xts-plain-sha1-pwallslots.img qiotest-145-aes-256-xts-plain-sha1-pwallslots
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -2400,7 +2381,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-essiv-auto-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-cbc-essiv-auto-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=cbc,ivgen-alg=essiv,hash-alg=sha1 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-essiv-auto-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-essiv-auto-sha1.img qiotest-145-aes-256-cbc-essiv-auto-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
@@ -2519,7 +2499,6 @@ unlink TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha256-sha1.img
 # ================= qemu-img aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha256-sha1 =================
 # Create image
 qemu-img create -f luks --object secret,id=sec0,data=MTIzNDU2,format=base64 -o key-secret=sec0,iter-time=10,cipher-alg=aes-256,cipher-mode=cbc,ivgen-alg=plain64,hash-alg=sha1,ivgen-hash-alg=sha256 TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha256-sha1.img 4194304M
-
 # Open dev
 sudo cryptsetup -q -v luksOpen TEST_DIR/luks-aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha256-sha1.img qiotest-145-aes-256-cbc-plain64-sha256-sha1
 # Write test pattern 0xa7
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/163 b/tests/qemu-iotests/163
index b8bfc95358..e4cd4b230f 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/163
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/163
@@ -107,8 +107,7 @@ class ShrinkBaseClass(iotests.QMPTestCase):
 
         if iotests.imgfmt == 'raw':
             return
-        self.assertEqual(qemu_img('check', test_img), 0,
-                         "Verifying image corruption")
+        qemu_img('check', test_img)
 
     def test_empty_image(self):
         qemu_img('resize',  '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '--shrink', test_img,
@@ -130,8 +129,7 @@ class ShrinkBaseClass(iotests.QMPTestCase):
         qemu_img('resize',  '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '--shrink', test_img,
                  self.shrink_size)
 
-        self.assertEqual(qemu_img("compare", test_img, check_img), 0,
-                         "Verifying image content")
+        qemu_img("compare", test_img, check_img)
 
         self.image_verify()
 
@@ -146,8 +144,7 @@ class ShrinkBaseClass(iotests.QMPTestCase):
         qemu_img('resize',  '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '--shrink', test_img,
                  self.shrink_size)
 
-        self.assertEqual(qemu_img("compare", test_img, check_img), 0,
-                         "Verifying image content")
+        qemu_img("compare", test_img, check_img)
 
         self.image_verify()
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/194 b/tests/qemu-iotests/194
index e44b8df728..68894371f5 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/194
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/194
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ with iotests.FilePath('source.img') as source_img_path, \
      iotests.VM('dest') as dest_vm:
 
     img_size = '1G'
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, source_img_path, img_size)
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, dest_img_path, img_size)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, source_img_path, img_size)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, dest_img_path, img_size)
 
     iotests.log('Launching VMs...')
     (source_vm.add_drive(source_img_path)
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/202 b/tests/qemu-iotests/202
index 8eb5f32d15..b784dcd791 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/202
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/202
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ with iotests.FilePath('disk0.img') as disk0_img_path, \
      iotests.VM() as vm:
 
     img_size = '10M'
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk0_img_path, img_size)
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk1_img_path, img_size)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk0_img_path, img_size)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk1_img_path, img_size)
 
     iotests.log('Launching VM...')
     vm.launch()
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/203 b/tests/qemu-iotests/203
index ea30e50497..ab80fd0e44 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/203
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/203
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ with iotests.FilePath('disk0.img') as disk0_img_path, \
      iotests.VM() as vm:
 
     img_size = '10M'
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk0_img_path, img_size)
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk1_img_path, img_size)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk0_img_path, img_size)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk1_img_path, img_size)
 
     iotests.log('Launching VM...')
     (vm.add_object('iothread,id=iothread0')
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/207 b/tests/qemu-iotests/207
index 0f5c4bc8a0..41dcf3ff55 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/207
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/207
@@ -35,7 +35,12 @@ def filter_hash(qmsg):
         if key == 'hash' and re.match('[0-9a-f]+', value):
             return 'HASH'
         return value
-    return iotests.filter_qmp(qmsg, _filter)
+    if isinstance(qmsg, str):
+        # Strip key type and fingerprint
+        p = r"\S+ (key fingerprint) '(md5|sha1|sha256):[0-9a-f]+'"
+        return re.sub(p, r"\1 '\2:HASH'", qmsg)
+    else:
+        return iotests.filter_qmp(qmsg, _filter)
 
 def blockdev_create(vm, options):
     vm.blockdev_create(options, filters=[iotests.filter_qmp_testfiles, filter_hash])
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/207.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/207.out
index aeb8569d77..05cf753283 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/207.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/207.out
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ virtual size: 4 MiB (4194304 bytes)
 
 {"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments": {"job-id": "job0", "options": {"driver": "ssh", "location": {"host-key-check": {"hash": "wrong", "mode": "hash", "type": "md5"}, "path": "TEST_DIR/PID-t.img", "server": {"host": "127.0.0.1", "port": "22"}}, "size": 2097152}}}
 {"return": {}}
-Job failed: remote host key does not match host_key_check 'wrong'
+Job failed: remote host key fingerprint 'md5:HASH' does not match host_key_check 'md5:wrong'
 {"execute": "job-dismiss", "arguments": {"id": "job0"}}
 {"return": {}}
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ virtual size: 8 MiB (8388608 bytes)
 
 {"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments": {"job-id": "job0", "options": {"driver": "ssh", "location": {"host-key-check": {"hash": "wrong", "mode": "hash", "type": "sha1"}, "path": "TEST_DIR/PID-t.img", "server": {"host": "127.0.0.1", "port": "22"}}, "size": 2097152}}}
 {"return": {}}
-Job failed: remote host key does not match host_key_check 'wrong'
+Job failed: remote host key fingerprint 'sha1:HASH' does not match host_key_check 'sha1:wrong'
 {"execute": "job-dismiss", "arguments": {"id": "job0"}}
 {"return": {}}
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ virtual size: 4 MiB (4194304 bytes)
 
 {"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments": {"job-id": "job0", "options": {"driver": "ssh", "location": {"host-key-check": {"hash": "wrong", "mode": "hash", "type": "sha256"}, "path": "TEST_DIR/PID-t.img", "server": {"host": "127.0.0.1", "port": "22"}}, "size": 2097152}}}
 {"return": {}}
-Job failed: remote host key does not match host_key_check 'wrong'
+Job failed: remote host key fingerprint 'sha256:HASH' does not match host_key_check 'sha256:wrong'
 {"execute": "job-dismiss", "arguments": {"id": "job0"}}
 {"return": {}}
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/211 b/tests/qemu-iotests/211
index f52cadade1..1a3b4596c8 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/211
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/211
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ with iotests.FilePath('t.vdi') as disk_path, \
     vm.shutdown()
 
     iotests.img_info_log(disk_path)
-    iotests.log(iotests.qemu_img_pipe('map', '--output=json', disk_path))
+    iotests.log(iotests.qemu_img_map(disk_path))
 
     #
     # Successful image creation (explicit defaults)
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ with iotests.FilePath('t.vdi') as disk_path, \
     vm.shutdown()
 
     iotests.img_info_log(disk_path)
-    iotests.log(iotests.qemu_img_pipe('map', '--output=json', disk_path))
+    iotests.log(iotests.qemu_img_map(disk_path))
 
     #
     # Successful image creation (with non-default options)
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ with iotests.FilePath('t.vdi') as disk_path, \
     vm.shutdown()
 
     iotests.img_info_log(disk_path)
-    iotests.log(iotests.qemu_img_pipe('map', '--output=json', disk_path))
+    iotests.log(iotests.qemu_img_map(disk_path))
 
     #
     # Invalid BlockdevRef
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/211.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/211.out
index c4425b5982..f02c75409c 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/211.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/211.out
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ file format: IMGFMT
 virtual size: 128 MiB (134217728 bytes)
 cluster_size: 1048576
 
-[{ "start": 0, "length": 134217728, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": true, "data": false}]
-
+[{"data": false, "depth": 0, "length": 134217728, "present": true, "start": 0, "zero": true}]
 === Successful image creation (explicit defaults) ===
 
 {"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments": {"job-id": "job0", "options": {"driver": "file", "filename": "TEST_DIR/PID-t.vdi", "size": 0}}}
@@ -36,8 +35,7 @@ file format: IMGFMT
 virtual size: 64 MiB (67108864 bytes)
 cluster_size: 1048576
 
-[{ "start": 0, "length": 67108864, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": true, "data": false}]
-
+[{"data": false, "depth": 0, "length": 67108864, "present": true, "start": 0, "zero": true}]
 === Successful image creation (with non-default options) ===
 
 {"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments": {"job-id": "job0", "options": {"driver": "file", "filename": "TEST_DIR/PID-t.vdi", "size": 0}}}
@@ -55,9 +53,7 @@ file format: IMGFMT
 virtual size: 32 MiB (33554432 bytes)
 cluster_size: 1048576
 
-[{ "start": 0, "length": 3072, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": false, "data": true, "offset": 1024},
-{ "start": 3072, "length": 33551360, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": true, "data": true, "offset": 4096}]
-
+[{"data": true, "depth": 0, "length": 3072, "offset": 1024, "present": true, "start": 0, "zero": false}, {"data": true, "depth": 0, "length": 33551360, "offset": 4096, "present": true, "start": 3072, "zero": true}]
 === Invalid BlockdevRef ===
 
 {"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments": {"job-id": "job0", "options": {"driver": "vdi", "file": "this doesn't exist", "size": 33554432}}}
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/216 b/tests/qemu-iotests/216
index c02f8d2880..88b385afa3 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/216
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/216
@@ -51,10 +51,10 @@ with iotests.FilePath('base.img') as base_img_path, \
     log('--- Setting up images ---')
     log('')
 
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_img_path, '64M') == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_img_path, '64M')
     assert qemu_io_silent(base_img_path, '-c', 'write -P 1 0M 1M') == 0
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base_img_path,
-                    '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top_img_path) == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base_img_path,
+             '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top_img_path)
     assert qemu_io_silent(top_img_path,  '-c', 'write -P 2 1M 1M') == 0
 
     log('Done')
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/218 b/tests/qemu-iotests/218
index 4922b4d3b6..853ed52b34 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/218
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/218
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ log('')
 with iotests.VM() as vm, \
      iotests.FilePath('src.img') as src_img_path:
 
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, src_img_path, '64M') == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, src_img_path, '64M')
     assert qemu_io_silent('-f', iotests.imgfmt, src_img_path,
                           '-c', 'write -P 42 0M 64M') == 0
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/224 b/tests/qemu-iotests/224
index 38dd153625..c31c55b49d 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/224
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/224
@@ -47,12 +47,11 @@ for filter_node_name in False, True:
          iotests.FilePath('top.img') as top_img_path, \
          iotests.VM() as vm:
 
-        assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt,
-                        base_img_path, '64M') == 0
-        assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base_img_path,
-                        '-F', iotests.imgfmt, mid_img_path) == 0
-        assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', mid_img_path,
-                        '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top_img_path) == 0
+        qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_img_path, '64M')
+        qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base_img_path,
+                 '-F', iotests.imgfmt, mid_img_path)
+        qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', mid_img_path,
+                 '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top_img_path)
 
         # Something to commit
         assert qemu_io_silent(mid_img_path, '-c', 'write -P 1 0 1M') == 0
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/228 b/tests/qemu-iotests/228
index a5eda2e149..f79bae0267 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/228
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/228
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@ with iotests.FilePath('base.img') as base_img_path, \
      iotests.FilePath('top.img') as top_img_path, \
      iotests.VM() as vm:
 
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_img_path, '64M') == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_img_path, '64M')
     # Choose a funny way to describe the backing filename
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b',
-                    'file:' + base_img_path, '-F', iotests.imgfmt,
-                    top_img_path) == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b',
+             'file:' + base_img_path, '-F', iotests.imgfmt,
+             top_img_path)
 
     vm.launch()
 
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ with iotests.FilePath('base.img') as base_img_path, \
     # (because qemu cannot "canonicalize"/"resolve" the backing
     # filename unless the backing file is opened implicitly with the
     # overlay)
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base_img_path,
-                    '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top_img_path) == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base_img_path,
+             '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top_img_path)
 
     # You can only reliably override backing options by using a node
     # reference (or by specifying file.filename, but, well...)
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/234 b/tests/qemu-iotests/234
index cb5f1753e0..a9f764bb2c 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/234
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/234
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ with iotests.FilePath('img') as img_path, \
      iotests.VM(path_suffix='a') as vm_a, \
      iotests.VM(path_suffix='b') as vm_b:
 
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, backing_path, '64M')
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, img_path, '64M')
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, backing_path, '64M')
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, img_path, '64M')
 
     os.mkfifo(fifo_a)
     os.mkfifo(fifo_b)
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/237 b/tests/qemu-iotests/237
index 43dfd3bd40..5ea13eb01f 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/237
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/237
@@ -165,8 +165,7 @@ with iotests.FilePath('t.vmdk') as disk_path, \
     iotests.log("")
 
     for path in [ extent1_path, extent2_path, extent3_path ]:
-        msg = iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', imgfmt, path, '0')
-        iotests.log(msg, [iotests.filter_testfiles])
+        iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', imgfmt, path, '0')
 
     vm.add_blockdev('driver=file,filename=%s,node-name=ext1' % (extent1_path))
     vm.add_blockdev('driver=file,filename=%s,node-name=ext2' % (extent2_path))
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/237.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/237.out
index aeb9724492..62b8865677 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/237.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/237.out
@@ -129,9 +129,6 @@ Job failed: Cannot find device='this doesn't exist' nor node-name='this doesn't
 
 === Other subformats ===
 
-
-
-
 == Missing extent ==
 
 {"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments": {"job-id": "job0", "options": {"driver": "vmdk", "file": "node0", "size": 33554432, "subformat": "monolithicFlat"}}}
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/242 b/tests/qemu-iotests/242
index 96a30152b0..b3afd36d72 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/242
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/242
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 import iotests
 import json
 import struct
-from iotests import qemu_img_create, qemu_io, qemu_img_pipe, \
+from iotests import qemu_img_create, qemu_io, qemu_img_info, \
     file_path, img_info_log, log, filter_qemu_io
 
 iotests.script_initialize(supported_fmts=['qcow2'],
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ flag_offset = 0x5000f
 def print_bitmap(extra_args):
     log('qemu-img info dump:\n')
     img_info_log(disk, extra_args=extra_args)
-    result = json.loads(qemu_img_pipe('info', '--force-share',
-                                      '--output=json', disk))
+    result = qemu_img_info('--force-share', disk)
     if 'bitmaps' in result['format-specific']['data']:
         bitmaps = result['format-specific']['data']['bitmaps']
         log('The same bitmaps in JSON format:')
@@ -101,7 +100,7 @@ add_bitmap(1, True, False)
 log('Write an unknown bitmap flag \'{}\' into a new QCOW2 image at offset {}'
     .format(hex(bitmap_flag_unknown), flag_offset))
 toggle_flag(flag_offset)
-img_info_log(disk)
+img_info_log(disk, check=False)
 toggle_flag(flag_offset)
 log('Unset the unknown bitmap flag \'{}\' in the bitmap directory entry:\n'
     .format(hex(bitmap_flag_unknown)))
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/255 b/tests/qemu-iotests/255
index 3d6d0e80cb..f86fa851b6 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/255
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/255
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ with iotests.FilePath('t.qcow2') as disk_path, \
     size_str = str(size)
 
     iotests.create_image(base_path, size)
-    iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, mid_path, size_str)
-    iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk_path, size_str)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, mid_path, size_str)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk_path, size_str)
 
     # Create a backing chain like this:
     # base <- [throttled: bps-read=4096] <- mid <- overlay
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ with iotests.FilePath('src.qcow2') as src_path, \
     size = 128 * 1024 * 1024
     size_str = str(size)
 
-    iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, src_path, size_str)
-    iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, dst_path, size_str)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, src_path, size_str)
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, dst_path, size_str)
 
     iotests.log(iotests.qemu_io('-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-c', 'write 0 1M',
                                 src_path),
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/255.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/255.out
index 11a05a5213..2e837cbb5f 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/255.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/255.out
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ Finishing a commit job with background reads
 
 === Create backing chain and start VM ===
 
-
-
 === Start background read requests ===
 
 === Run a commit job ===
@@ -21,8 +19,6 @@ Closing the VM while a job is being cancelled
 
 === Create images and start VM ===
 
-
-
 wrote 1048576/1048576 bytes at offset 0
 1 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/257 b/tests/qemu-iotests/257
index c72c82a171..e7e7a2317e 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/257
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/257
@@ -240,13 +240,14 @@ def compare_images(image, reference, baseimg=None, expected_match=True):
     """
     expected_ret = 0 if expected_match else 1
     if baseimg:
-        assert qemu_img("rebase", "-u", "-b", baseimg, '-F', iotests.imgfmt,
-                        image) == 0
-    ret = qemu_img("compare", image, reference)
+        qemu_img("rebase", "-u", "-b", baseimg, '-F', iotests.imgfmt, image)
+
+    sub = qemu_img("compare", image, reference, check=False)
+
     log('qemu_img compare "{:s}" "{:s}" ==> {:s}, {:s}'.format(
         image, reference,
-        "Identical" if ret == 0 else "Mismatch",
-        "OK!" if ret == expected_ret else "ERROR!"),
+        "Identical" if sub.returncode == 0 else "Mismatch",
+        "OK!" if sub.returncode == expected_ret else "ERROR!"),
         filters=[iotests.filter_testfiles])
 
 def test_bitmap_sync(bsync_mode, msync_mode='bitmap', failure=None):
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/258 b/tests/qemu-iotests/258
index a6618208a8..7798a04d7d 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/258
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/258
@@ -75,13 +75,13 @@ def test_concurrent_finish(write_to_stream_node):
 
         # It is important to use raw for the base layer (so that
         # permissions are just handed through to the protocol layer)
-        assert qemu_img('create', '-f', 'raw', node0_path, '64M') == 0
+        qemu_img('create', '-f', 'raw', node0_path, '64M')
 
         stream_throttle=None
         commit_throttle=None
 
         for path in [node1_path, node2_path, node3_path, node4_path]:
-            assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, path, '64M') == 0
+            qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, path, '64M')
 
         if write_to_stream_node:
             # This is what (most of the time) makes commit finish
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/262 b/tests/qemu-iotests/262
index 32d69988ef..2294fd5ecb 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/262
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/262
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ with iotests.FilePath('img') as img_path, \
 
         vm.add_device('virtio-blk,drive=%s,iothread=iothread0' % root)
 
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, img_path, '64M')
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, img_path, '64M')
 
     os.mkfifo(fifo)
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/266 b/tests/qemu-iotests/266
index 71ce81d0df..8fc3807ac5 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/266
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/266
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def main():
             iotests.log('')
 
             vm.shutdown()
-            iotests.img_info_log(file_path)
+            iotests.img_info_log(file_path, check=False)
 
 
 iotests.script_main(main,
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/274 b/tests/qemu-iotests/274
index 080a90f10f..2495e051a2 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/274
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/274
@@ -31,12 +31,11 @@ size_long = 2 * 1024 * 1024
 size_diff = size_long - size_short
 
 def create_chain() -> None:
-    iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base,
-                         str(size_long))
-    iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base,
-                         '-F', iotests.imgfmt, mid, str(size_short))
-    iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', mid,
-                         '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top, str(size_long))
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, base, str(size_long))
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base,
+                            '-F', iotests.imgfmt, mid, str(size_short))
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', mid,
+                            '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top, str(size_long))
 
     iotests.qemu_io_log('-c', 'write -P 1 0 %d' % size_long, base)
 
@@ -160,9 +159,9 @@ with iotests.FilePath('base') as base, \
             ('off',      '512k', '256k', '500k', '436k')]:
 
         iotests.log('=== preallocation=%s ===' % prealloc)
-        iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base, base_size)
-        iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base,
-                             '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top, top_size_old)
+        iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, base, base_size)
+        iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base,
+                                '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top, top_size_old)
         iotests.qemu_io_log('-c', 'write -P 1 %s 64k' % off, base)
 
         # After this, top_size_old to base_size should be allocated/zeroed.
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/274.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/274.out
index 1ce40d839a..acd8b166a6 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/274.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/274.out
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 == Commit tests ==
-
-
-
 wrote 2097152/2097152 bytes at offset 0
 2 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -63,9 +60,6 @@ read 1048576/1048576 bytes at offset 1048576
 1 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
 === Testing HMP commit (top -> mid) ===
-
-
-
 wrote 2097152/2097152 bytes at offset 0
 2 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -92,9 +86,6 @@ read 1048576/1048576 bytes at offset 1048576
 1 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
 === Testing QMP active commit (top -> mid) ===
-
-
-
 wrote 2097152/2097152 bytes at offset 0
 2 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -127,9 +118,6 @@ read 1048576/1048576 bytes at offset 1048576
 1 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
 === Testing qemu-img commit (top -> base) ===
-
-
-
 wrote 2097152/2097152 bytes at offset 0
 2 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -154,9 +142,6 @@ read 1048576/1048576 bytes at offset 1048576
 1 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
 === Testing QMP active commit (top -> base) ===
-
-
-
 wrote 2097152/2097152 bytes at offset 0
 2 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -190,8 +175,6 @@ read 1048576/1048576 bytes at offset 1048576
 
 == Resize tests ==
 === preallocation=off ===
-
-
 wrote 65536/65536 bytes at offset 5368709120
 64 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -207,8 +190,6 @@ read 65536/65536 bytes at offset 5368709120
 { "start": 1073741824, "length": 7516192768, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": true, "data": false}]
 
 === preallocation=metadata ===
-
-
 wrote 65536/65536 bytes at offset 33285996544
 64 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -229,8 +210,6 @@ read 65536/65536 bytes at offset 33285996544
 { "start": 34896609280, "length": 536870912, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": true, "data": false, "offset": 2685075456}]
 
 === preallocation=falloc ===
-
-
 wrote 65536/65536 bytes at offset 9437184
 64 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -246,8 +225,6 @@ read 65536/65536 bytes at offset 9437184
 { "start": 5242880, "length": 10485760, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": false, "data": true, "offset": 327680}]
 
 === preallocation=full ===
-
-
 wrote 65536/65536 bytes at offset 11534336
 64 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -263,8 +240,6 @@ read 65536/65536 bytes at offset 11534336
 { "start": 8388608, "length": 4194304, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": false, "data": true, "offset": 327680}]
 
 === preallocation=off ===
-
-
 wrote 65536/65536 bytes at offset 259072
 64 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -281,8 +256,6 @@ read 65536/65536 bytes at offset 259072
 { "start": 262144, "length": 262144, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": true, "data": false}]
 
 === preallocation=off ===
-
-
 wrote 65536/65536 bytes at offset 344064
 64 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
@@ -298,8 +271,6 @@ read 65536/65536 bytes at offset 344064
 { "start": 262144, "length": 262144, "depth": 0, "present": true, "zero": true, "data": false}]
 
 === preallocation=off ===
-
-
 wrote 65536/65536 bytes at offset 446464
 64 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/280 b/tests/qemu-iotests/280
index 628f3c33ca..5f50500fdb 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/280
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/280
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ with iotests.FilePath('base') as base_path , \
      iotests.FilePath('top') as top_path, \
      iotests.VM() as vm:
 
-    iotests.qemu_img_log('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_path, '64M')
+    iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_path, '64M')
 
     iotests.log('=== Launch VM ===')
     vm.add_object('iothread,id=iothread0')
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/280.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/280.out
index e39164c579..c75f437c00 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/280.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/280.out
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 === Launch VM ===
 Enabling migration QMP events on VM...
 {"return": {}}
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/296 b/tests/qemu-iotests/296
index f80ef3434a..0d21b740a7 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/296
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/296
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class EncryptionSetupTestCase(iotests.QMPTestCase):
     # create the encrypted block device using qemu-img
     def createImg(self, file, secret):
 
-        output = iotests.qemu_img_pipe(
+        iotests.qemu_img(
             'create',
             '--object', *secret.to_cmdline_object(),
             '-f', iotests.imgfmt,
@@ -84,8 +84,7 @@ class EncryptionSetupTestCase(iotests.QMPTestCase):
             '-o', 'iter-time=10',
             file,
             '1M')
-
-        iotests.log(output, filters=[iotests.filter_test_dir])
+        iotests.log('')
 
     # attempts to add a key using qemu-img
     def addKey(self, file, secret, new_secret):
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ class EncryptionSetupTestCase(iotests.QMPTestCase):
                 }
             }
 
-        output = iotests.qemu_img_pipe(
+        output = iotests.qemu_img(
             'amend',
             '--object', *secret.to_cmdline_object(),
             '--object', *new_secret.to_cmdline_object(),
@@ -108,8 +107,9 @@ class EncryptionSetupTestCase(iotests.QMPTestCase):
             '-o', 'new-secret=' + new_secret.id(),
             '-o', 'iter-time=10',
 
-            "json:" + json.dumps(image_options)
-            )
+            "json:" + json.dumps(image_options),
+            check=False  # Expected to fail. Log output.
+        ).stdout
 
         iotests.log(output, filters=[iotests.filter_test_dir])
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/303 b/tests/qemu-iotests/303
index 16c2e10827..93aa5ce9b7 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/303
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/303
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def create_bitmap(bitmap_number, disabled):
     if disabled:
         args.append('--disable')
 
-    iotests.qemu_img_pipe(*args)
+    iotests.qemu_img(*args)
 
 
 def write_to_disk(offset, size):
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/310 b/tests/qemu-iotests/310
index 33c3411869..e3bfedc7fd 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/310
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/310
@@ -43,15 +43,15 @@ with iotests.FilePath('base.img') as base_img_path, \
     log('--- Setting up images ---')
     log('')
 
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_img_path, '64M') == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_img_path, '64M')
     assert qemu_io_silent(base_img_path, '-c', 'write -P 1 0M 1M') == 0
     assert qemu_io_silent(base_img_path, '-c', 'write -P 1 3M 1M') == 0
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base_img_path,
-                    '-F', iotests.imgfmt, mid_img_path) == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base_img_path,
+             '-F', iotests.imgfmt, mid_img_path)
     assert qemu_io_silent(mid_img_path, '-c', 'write -P 3 2M 1M') == 0
     assert qemu_io_silent(mid_img_path, '-c', 'write -P 3 4M 1M') == 0
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', mid_img_path,
-                    '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top_img_path) == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', mid_img_path,
+             '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top_img_path)
     assert qemu_io_silent(top_img_path, '-c', 'write -P 2 1M 1M') == 0
 
 #      0 1 2 3 4
@@ -105,8 +105,7 @@ with iotests.FilePath('base.img') as base_img_path, \
     log('')
 
     # Detach backing to check that we can read the data from the top level now
-    assert qemu_img('rebase', '-u', '-b', '', '-f', iotests.imgfmt,
-                    top_img_path) == 0
+    qemu_img('rebase', '-u', '-b', '', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, top_img_path)
 
     assert qemu_io_silent(top_img_path, '-c', 'read -P 0 0 1M') == 0
     assert qemu_io_silent(top_img_path, '-c', 'read -P 2 1M 1M') == 0
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/common.filter b/tests/qemu-iotests/common.filter
index 9790411bf0..cc9f1a5891 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/common.filter
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/common.filter
@@ -106,13 +106,13 @@ _filter_hmp()
 # replace block job offset
 _filter_block_job_offset()
 {
-    sed -e 's/, "offset": [0-9]\+,/, "offset": OFFSET,/'
+    gsed -e 's/, "offset": [0-9]\+,/, "offset": OFFSET,/'
 }
 
 # replace block job len
 _filter_block_job_len()
 {
-    sed -e 's/, "len": [0-9]\+,/, "len": LEN,/g'
+    gsed -e 's/, "len": [0-9]\+,/, "len": LEN,/g'
 }
 
 # replace actual image size (depends on the host filesystem)
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/iotests.py b/tests/qemu-iotests/iotests.py
index 508adade9e..fcec3e51e5 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/iotests.py
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/iotests.py
@@ -37,9 +37,10 @@ import unittest
 
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
+from qemu.aqmp.legacy import QEMUMonitorProtocol
 from qemu.machine import qtest
 from qemu.qmp import QMPMessage
-from qemu.aqmp.legacy import QEMUMonitorProtocol
+from qemu.utils import VerboseProcessError
 
 # Use this logger for logging messages directly from the iotests module
 logger = logging.getLogger('qemu.iotests')
@@ -206,18 +207,50 @@ def qemu_img_create_prepare_args(args: List[str]) -> List[str]:
 
     return result
 
-def qemu_img_pipe_and_status(*args: str) -> Tuple[str, int]:
+def qemu_img(*args: str, check: bool = True, combine_stdio: bool = True
+             ) -> 'subprocess.CompletedProcess[str]':
     """
-    Run qemu-img and return both its output and its exit code
-    """
-    is_create = bool(args and args[0] == 'create')
-    full_args = qemu_img_args + qemu_img_create_prepare_args(list(args))
-    return qemu_tool_pipe_and_status('qemu-img', full_args,
-                                     drop_successful_output=is_create)
+    Run qemu_img and return the status code and console output.
+
+    This function always prepends QEMU_IMG_OPTIONS and may further alter
+    the args for 'create' commands.
+
+    :param args: command-line arguments to qemu-img.
+    :param check: Enforce a return code of zero.
+    :param combine_stdio: set to False to keep stdout/stderr separated.
+
+    :raise VerboseProcessError:
+        When the return code is negative, or on any non-zero exit code
+        when 'check=True' was provided (the default). This exception has
+        'stdout', 'stderr', and 'returncode' properties that may be
+        inspected to show greater detail. If this exception is not
+        handled, the command-line, return code, and all console output
+        will be included at the bottom of the stack trace.
+
+    :return:
+        a CompletedProcess. This object has args, returncode, and stdout
+        properties. If streams are not combined, it will also have a
+        stderr property.
+    """
+    full_args = qemu_img_args + qemu_img_create_prepare_args(list(args))
+
+    subp = subprocess.run(
+        full_args,
+        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+        stderr=subprocess.STDOUT if combine_stdio else subprocess.PIPE,
+        universal_newlines=True,
+        check=False
+    )
+
+    if check and subp.returncode or (subp.returncode < 0):
+        raise VerboseProcessError(
+            subp.returncode, full_args,
+            output=subp.stdout,
+            stderr=subp.stderr,
+        )
+
+    return subp
 
-def qemu_img(*args: str) -> int:
-    '''Run qemu-img and return the exit code'''
-    return qemu_img_pipe_and_status(*args)[1]
 
 def ordered_qmp(qmsg, conv_keys=True):
     # Dictionaries are not ordered prior to 3.6, therefore:
@@ -232,26 +265,63 @@ def ordered_qmp(qmsg, conv_keys=True):
         return od
     return qmsg
 
-def qemu_img_create(*args):
+def qemu_img_create(*args: str) -> 'subprocess.CompletedProcess[str]':
     return qemu_img('create', *args)
 
-def qemu_img_measure(*args):
-    return json.loads(qemu_img_pipe("measure", "--output", "json", *args))
+def qemu_img_json(*args: str) -> Any:
+    """
+    Run qemu-img and return its output as deserialized JSON.
 
-def qemu_img_check(*args):
-    return json.loads(qemu_img_pipe("check", "--output", "json", *args))
+    :raise CalledProcessError:
+        When qemu-img crashes, or returns a non-zero exit code without
+        producing a valid JSON document to stdout.
+    :raise JSONDecoderError:
+        When qemu-img returns 0, but failed to produce a valid JSON document.
 
-def qemu_img_pipe(*args: str) -> str:
-    '''Run qemu-img and return its output'''
-    return qemu_img_pipe_and_status(*args)[0]
+    :return: A deserialized JSON object; probably a dict[str, Any].
+    """
+    try:
+        res = qemu_img(*args, combine_stdio=False)
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as exc:
+        # Terminated due to signal. Don't bother.
+        if exc.returncode < 0:
+            raise
 
-def qemu_img_log(*args):
-    result = qemu_img_pipe(*args)
-    log(result, filters=[filter_testfiles])
+        # Commands like 'check' can return failure (exit codes 2 and 3)
+        # to indicate command completion, but with errors found. For
+        # multi-command flexibility, ignore the exact error codes and
+        # *try* to load JSON.
+        try:
+            return json.loads(exc.stdout)
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            # Nope. This thing is toast. Raise the /process/ error.
+            pass
+        raise
+
+    return json.loads(res.stdout)
+
+def qemu_img_measure(*args: str) -> Any:
+    return qemu_img_json("measure", "--output", "json", *args)
+
+def qemu_img_check(*args: str) -> Any:
+    return qemu_img_json("check", "--output", "json", *args)
+
+def qemu_img_info(*args: str) -> Any:
+    return qemu_img_json('info', "--output", "json", *args)
+
+def qemu_img_map(*args: str) -> Any:
+    return qemu_img_json('map', "--output", "json", *args)
+
+def qemu_img_log(*args: str, check: bool = True
+                 ) -> 'subprocess.CompletedProcess[str]':
+    result = qemu_img(*args, check=check)
+    log(result.stdout, filters=[filter_testfiles])
     return result
 
-def img_info_log(filename, filter_path=None, use_image_opts=False,
-                 extra_args=()):
+def img_info_log(filename: str, filter_path: Optional[str] = None,
+                 use_image_opts: bool = False, extra_args: Sequence[str] = (),
+                 check: bool = True,
+                 ) -> None:
     args = ['info']
     if use_image_opts:
         args.append('--image-opts')
@@ -260,7 +330,7 @@ def img_info_log(filename, filter_path=None, use_image_opts=False,
     args += extra_args
     args.append(filename)
 
-    output = qemu_img_pipe(*args)
+    output = qemu_img(*args, check=check).stdout
     if not filter_path:
         filter_path = filename
     log(filter_img_info(output, filter_path))
@@ -465,10 +535,22 @@ def qemu_nbd_popen(*args):
             p.kill()
             p.wait()
 
-def compare_images(img1, img2, fmt1=imgfmt, fmt2=imgfmt):
-    '''Return True if two image files are identical'''
-    return qemu_img('compare', '-f', fmt1,
-                    '-F', fmt2, img1, img2) == 0
+def compare_images(img1: str, img2: str,
+                   fmt1: str = imgfmt, fmt2: str = imgfmt) -> bool:
+    """
+    Compare two images with QEMU_IMG; return True if they are identical.
+
+    :raise CalledProcessError:
+        when qemu-img crashes or returns a status code of anything other
+        than 0 (identical) or 1 (different).
+    """
+    try:
+        qemu_img('compare', '-f', fmt1, '-F', fmt2, img1, img2)
+        return True
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as exc:
+        if exc.returncode == 1:
+            return False
+        raise
 
 def create_image(name, size):
     '''Create a fully-allocated raw image with sector markers'''
@@ -479,10 +561,14 @@ def create_image(name, size):
             file.write(sector)
             i = i + 512
 
-def image_size(img):
-    '''Return image's virtual size'''
-    r = qemu_img_pipe('info', '--output=json', '-f', imgfmt, img)
-    return json.loads(r)['virtual-size']
+def image_size(img: str) -> int:
+    """Return image's virtual size"""
+    value = qemu_img_info('-f', imgfmt, img)['virtual-size']
+    if not isinstance(value, int):
+        type_name = type(value).__name__
+        raise TypeError("Expected 'int' for 'virtual-size', "
+                        f"got '{value}' of type '{type_name}'")
+    return value
 
 def is_str(val):
     return isinstance(val, str)
@@ -521,8 +607,10 @@ def filter_qmp(qmsg, filter_fn):
     # Iterate through either lists or dicts;
     if isinstance(qmsg, list):
         items = enumerate(qmsg)
-    else:
+    elif isinstance(qmsg, dict):
         items = qmsg.items()
+    else:
+        return filter_fn(None, qmsg)
 
     for k, v in items:
         if isinstance(v, (dict, list)):
@@ -858,8 +946,12 @@ class VM(qtest.QEMUQtestMachine):
         return result
 
     # Returns None on success, and an error string on failure
-    def run_job(self, job, auto_finalize=True, auto_dismiss=False,
-                pre_finalize=None, cancel=False, wait=60.0):
+    def run_job(self, job: str, auto_finalize: bool = True,
+                auto_dismiss: bool = False,
+                pre_finalize: Optional[Callable[[], None]] = None,
+                cancel: bool = False, wait: float = 60.0,
+                filters: Iterable[Callable[[Any], Any]] = (),
+                ) -> Optional[str]:
         """
         run_job moves a job from creation through to dismissal.
 
@@ -889,7 +981,7 @@ class VM(qtest.QEMUQtestMachine):
         while True:
             ev = filter_qmp_event(self.events_wait(events, timeout=wait))
             if ev['event'] != 'JOB_STATUS_CHANGE':
-                log(ev)
+                log(ev, filters=filters)
                 continue
             status = ev['data']['status']
             if status == 'aborting':
@@ -897,18 +989,18 @@ class VM(qtest.QEMUQtestMachine):
                 for j in result['return']:
                     if j['id'] == job:
                         error = j['error']
-                        log('Job failed: %s' % (j['error']))
+                        log('Job failed: %s' % (j['error']), filters=filters)
             elif status == 'ready':
-                self.qmp_log('job-complete', id=job)
+                self.qmp_log('job-complete', id=job, filters=filters)
             elif status == 'pending' and not auto_finalize:
                 if pre_finalize:
                     pre_finalize()
                 if cancel:
-                    self.qmp_log('job-cancel', id=job)
+                    self.qmp_log('job-cancel', id=job, filters=filters)
                 else:
-                    self.qmp_log('job-finalize', id=job)
+                    self.qmp_log('job-finalize', id=job, filters=filters)
             elif status == 'concluded' and not auto_dismiss:
-                self.qmp_log('job-dismiss', id=job)
+                self.qmp_log('job-dismiss', id=job, filters=filters)
             elif status == 'null':
                 return error
 
@@ -921,7 +1013,7 @@ class VM(qtest.QEMUQtestMachine):
 
         if 'return' in result:
             assert result['return'] == {}
-            job_result = self.run_job(job_id)
+            job_result = self.run_job(job_id, filters=filters)
         else:
             job_result = result['error']
 
@@ -1332,8 +1424,8 @@ def _verify_imgopts(unsupported: Sequence[str] = ()) -> None:
         notrun(f'not suitable for this imgopts: {imgopts}')
 
 
-def supports_quorum():
-    return 'quorum' in qemu_img_pipe('--help')
+def supports_quorum() -> bool:
+    return 'quorum' in qemu_img('--help').stdout
 
 def verify_quorum():
     '''Skip test suite if quorum support is not available'''
@@ -1349,20 +1441,20 @@ def has_working_luks() -> Tuple[bool, str]:
     """
 
     img_file = f'{test_dir}/luks-test.luks'
-    (output, status) = \
-        qemu_img_pipe_and_status('create', '-f', 'luks',
-                                 '--object', luks_default_secret_object,
-                                 '-o', luks_default_key_secret_opt,
-                                 '-o', 'iter-time=10',
-                                 img_file, '1G')
+    res = qemu_img('create', '-f', 'luks',
+                   '--object', luks_default_secret_object,
+                   '-o', luks_default_key_secret_opt,
+                   '-o', 'iter-time=10',
+                   img_file, '1G',
+                   check=False)
     try:
         os.remove(img_file)
     except OSError:
         pass
 
-    if status != 0:
-        reason = output
-        for line in output.splitlines():
+    if res.returncode:
+        reason = res.stdout
+        for line in res.stdout.splitlines():
             if img_file + ':' in line:
                 reason = line.split(img_file + ':', 1)[1].strip()
                 break
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/testenv.py b/tests/qemu-iotests/testenv.py
index b11e943c8a..a864c74b12 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/testenv.py
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/testenv.py
@@ -235,6 +235,8 @@ class TestEnv(ContextManager['TestEnv']):
             ('aarch64', 'virt'),
             ('avr', 'mega2560'),
             ('m68k', 'virt'),
+            ('riscv32', 'virt'),
+            ('riscv64', 'virt'),
             ('rx', 'gdbsim-r5f562n8'),
             ('tricore', 'tricore_testboard')
         )
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/testrunner.py b/tests/qemu-iotests/testrunner.py
index 5c207225b1..aae70a8341 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/testrunner.py
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/testrunner.py
@@ -388,6 +388,7 @@ class TestRunner(ContextManager['TestRunner']):
 
         if self.tap:
             self.env.print_env('# ')
+            print('1..%d' % len(tests))
         else:
             self.env.print_env()
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/block-status-cache b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/block-status-cache
index 6fa10bb8f8..5a7bc2c149 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/block-status-cache
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/block-status-cache
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 import os
 import signal
 import iotests
-from iotests import qemu_img_create, qemu_img_pipe, qemu_nbd
+from iotests import qemu_img_create, qemu_img_map, qemu_nbd
 
 
 image_size = 1 * 1024 * 1024
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ nbd_sock = os.path.join(iotests.sock_dir, 'nbd.sock')
 class TestBscWithNbd(iotests.QMPTestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
         """Just create an empty image with a read-only NBD server on it"""
-        assert qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, test_img,
-                               str(image_size)) == 0
+        qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, test_img, str(image_size))
 
         # Pass --allocation-depth to enable the qemu:allocation-depth context,
         # which we are going to query to provoke a block-status inquiry with
@@ -77,8 +76,7 @@ class TestBscWithNbd(iotests.QMPTestCase):
         # to allocate the first sector to facilitate alignment probing), and
         # then the rest to be zero.  The BSC will thus contain (if anything)
         # one range covering the first sector.
-        map_pre = qemu_img_pipe('map', '--output=json', '--image-opts',
-                                nbd_img_opts)
+        map_pre = qemu_img_map('--image-opts', nbd_img_opts)
 
         # qemu:allocation-depth maps for want_zero=false.
         # want_zero=false should (with the file driver, which the server is
@@ -112,14 +110,12 @@ class TestBscWithNbd(iotests.QMPTestCase):
         # never loop too many times here.
         for _ in range(2):
             # (Ignore the result, this is just to contaminate the cache)
-            qemu_img_pipe('map', '--output=json', '--image-opts',
-                          nbd_img_opts_alloc_depth)
+            qemu_img_map('--image-opts', nbd_img_opts_alloc_depth)
 
         # Now let's see whether the cache reports everything as data, or
         # whether we get correct information (i.e. the same as we got on our
         # first attempt).
-        map_post = qemu_img_pipe('map', '--output=json', '--image-opts',
-                                 nbd_img_opts)
+        map_post = qemu_img_map('--image-opts', nbd_img_opts)
 
         if map_pre != map_post:
             print('ERROR: Map information differs before and after querying ' +
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/graph-changes-while-io b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/graph-changes-while-io
index 567e8cf21e..7664f33689 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/graph-changes-while-io
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/graph-changes-while-io
@@ -34,16 +34,15 @@ def do_qemu_img_bench() -> None:
     """
     Do some I/O requests on `nbd_sock`.
     """
-    assert qemu_img('bench', '-f', 'raw', '-c', '2000000',
-                    f'nbd+unix:///node0?socket={nbd_sock}') == 0
+    qemu_img('bench', '-f', 'raw', '-c', '2000000',
+             f'nbd+unix:///node0?socket={nbd_sock}')
 
 
 class TestGraphChangesWhileIO(QMPTestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
         # Create an overlay that can be added at runtime on top of the
         # null-co block node that will receive I/O
-        assert qemu_img_create('-f', imgfmt, '-F', 'raw', '-b', 'null-co://',
-                               top) == 0
+        qemu_img_create('-f', imgfmt, '-F', 'raw', '-b', 'null-co://', top)
 
         # QSD instance with a null-co block node in an I/O thread,
         # exported over NBD (on `nbd_sock`, export name "node0")
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/image-fleecing b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/image-fleecing
index c56278639c..b7e5076104 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/image-fleecing
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/image-fleecing
@@ -63,18 +63,18 @@ def do_test(vm, use_cbw, use_snapshot_access_filter, base_img_path,
     log('--- Setting up images ---')
     log('')
 
-    assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_img_path, '64M') == 0
+    qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, base_img_path, '64M')
     if bitmap:
-        assert qemu_img('bitmap', '--add', base_img_path, 'bitmap0') == 0
+        qemu_img('bitmap', '--add', base_img_path, 'bitmap0')
 
     if use_snapshot_access_filter:
         assert use_cbw
-        assert qemu_img('create', '-f', 'raw', fleece_img_path, '64M') == 0
+        qemu_img('create', '-f', 'raw', fleece_img_path, '64M')
     else:
-        assert qemu_img('create', '-f', 'qcow2', fleece_img_path, '64M') == 0
+        qemu_img('create', '-f', 'qcow2', fleece_img_path, '64M')
 
     if push_backup:
-        assert qemu_img('create', '-f', 'qcow2', target_img_path, '64M') == 0
+        qemu_img('create', '-f', 'qcow2', target_img_path, '64M')
 
     for p in patterns:
         qemu_io('-f', iotests.imgfmt,
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-ready-cancel-error b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-ready-cancel-error
index 770ffca379..1d0e333b5e 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-ready-cancel-error
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-ready-cancel-error
@@ -31,10 +31,8 @@ target = os.path.join(iotests.test_dir, 'target.img')
 
 class TestMirrorReadyCancelError(iotests.QMPTestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
-        assert iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, source,
-                                       str(image_size)) == 0
-        assert iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, target,
-                                       str(image_size)) == 0
+        iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, source, str(image_size))
+        iotests.qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, target, str(image_size))
 
         # Ensure that mirror will copy something before READY so the
         # target format layer will forward the pre-READY flush to its
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-top-perms b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-top-perms
index b5849978c4..6ac8d5efcc 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-top-perms
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-top-perms
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ source = os.path.join(iotests.test_dir, 'source.img')
 
 class TestMirrorTopPerms(iotests.QMPTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        assert qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, source,
-                        str(image_size)) == 0
+        qemu_img('create', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, source, str(image_size))
         self.vm = iotests.VM()
         self.vm.add_drive(source)
         self.vm.add_blockdev(f'null-co,node-name=null,size={image_size}')
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/parallels-read-bitmap b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/parallels-read-bitmap
index af6b9c5db3..38ab5fa5b2 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/parallels-read-bitmap
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/parallels-read-bitmap
@@ -18,9 +18,8 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
-import json
 import iotests
-from iotests import qemu_nbd_popen, qemu_img_pipe, log, file_path
+from iotests import qemu_nbd_popen, qemu_img_map, log, file_path
 
 iotests.script_initialize(supported_fmts=['parallels'])
 
@@ -36,8 +35,7 @@ iotests.unarchive_sample_image('parallels-with-bitmap', disk)
 
 with qemu_nbd_popen('--read-only', f'--socket={nbd_sock}',
                     f'--bitmap={bitmap}', '-f', iotests.imgfmt, disk):
-    out = qemu_img_pipe('map', '--output=json', '--image-opts', nbd_opts)
-    chunks = json.loads(out)
+    chunks = qemu_img_map('--image-opts', nbd_opts)
     cluster = 64 * 1024
 
     log('dirty clusters (cluster size is 64K):')
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/remove-bitmap-from-backing b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/remove-bitmap-from-backing
index 3c397b08ea..15be32dcb9 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/remove-bitmap-from-backing
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/remove-bitmap-from-backing
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 #
 
 import iotests
-from iotests import log, qemu_img_create, qemu_img, qemu_img_pipe
+from iotests import log, qemu_img_create, qemu_img, qemu_img_info
 
 iotests.script_initialize(supported_fmts=['qcow2'],
                           unsupported_imgopts=['compat'])
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ iotests.script_initialize(supported_fmts=['qcow2'],
 top, base = iotests.file_path('top', 'base')
 size = '1M'
 
-assert qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, base, size) == 0
-assert qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base,
-                       '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top, size) == 0
+qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, base, size)
+qemu_img_create('-f', iotests.imgfmt, '-b', base,
+                '-F', iotests.imgfmt, top, size)
 
-assert qemu_img('bitmap', '--add', base, 'bitmap0') == 0
+qemu_img('bitmap', '--add', base, 'bitmap0')
 # Just assert that our method of checking bitmaps in the image works.
-assert 'bitmaps' in qemu_img_pipe('info', base)
+assert 'bitmaps' in qemu_img_info(base)['format-specific']['data']
 
 vm = iotests.VM().add_drive(top, 'backing.node-name=base')
 vm.launch()
@@ -68,5 +68,5 @@ if result != {'return': {}}:
 
 vm.shutdown()
 
-if 'bitmaps' in qemu_img_pipe('info', base):
+if 'bitmaps' in qemu_img_info(base)['format-specific']['data']:
     log('ERROR: Bitmap is still in the base image')
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/stream-error-on-reset b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/stream-error-on-reset
index 7eaedb24d7..389ae822b8 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/stream-error-on-reset
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/stream-error-on-reset
@@ -54,9 +54,9 @@ class TestStreamErrorOnReset(QMPTestCase):
           to it will result in an error
         - top image is attached to a virtio-scsi device
         """
-        assert qemu_img_create('-f', imgfmt, base, str(image_size)) == 0
+        qemu_img_create('-f', imgfmt, base, str(image_size))
         assert qemu_io_silent('-c', f'write 0 {data_size}', base) == 0
-        assert qemu_img_create('-f', imgfmt, top, str(image_size)) == 0
+        qemu_img_create('-f', imgfmt, top, str(image_size))
 
         self.vm = iotests.VM()
         self.vm.add_args('-accel', 'tcg') # Make throttling work properly