diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 75b640a6be..d52a1e48bc 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -5359,9 +5359,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                 add_device_config(DEV_USB, optarg);
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_device:
-                opts = qemu_opts_parse(&qemu_device_opts, optarg, "driver");
-                if (!opts) {
-                    fprintf(stderr, "parse error: %s\n", optarg);
+                if (!qemu_opts_parse(&qemu_device_opts, optarg, "driver")) {
                     exit(1);
                 }
                 break;