diff --git a/hw/qdev-properties.c b/hw/qdev-properties.c
index 8aca0d4..b7aa386 100644
--- a/hw/qdev-properties.c
+++ b/hw/qdev-properties.c
@@ -5,6 +5,20 @@
 #include "hw/block-common.h"
 #include "net/hub.h"
 
+static void report_already_realized(Error **errp, DeviceState *dev,
+                                    const char *name)
+{
+    if (dev->id) {
+        error_setg(errp, "Attempt to set property '%s' on device '%s' "
+                   "(type '%s') after it was realized", name, dev->id,
+                   object_get_typename(OBJECT(dev)));
+    } else {
+        error_setg(errp, "Attempt to set property '%s' on anonymous device "
+                   "(type '%s') after it was realized", name,
+                   object_get_typename(OBJECT(dev)));
+    }
+}
+
 void *qdev_get_prop_ptr(DeviceState *dev, Property *prop)
 {
     void *ptr = dev;
@@ -36,7 +50,7 @@ static void set_pointer(Object *obj, Visitor *v, Property *prop,
     int ret;
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -74,7 +88,7 @@ static void set_enum(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     int *ptr = qdev_get_prop_ptr(dev, prop);
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -126,7 +140,7 @@ static void set_bit(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     bool value;
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -166,7 +180,7 @@ static void set_uint8(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     uint8_t *ptr = qdev_get_prop_ptr(dev, prop);
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -233,7 +247,7 @@ static void set_uint16(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     uint16_t *ptr = qdev_get_prop_ptr(dev, prop);
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -266,7 +280,7 @@ static void set_uint32(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     uint32_t *ptr = qdev_get_prop_ptr(dev, prop);
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -291,7 +305,7 @@ static void set_int32(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     int32_t *ptr = qdev_get_prop_ptr(dev, prop);
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -364,7 +378,7 @@ static void set_uint64(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     uint64_t *ptr = qdev_get_prop_ptr(dev, prop);
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -452,7 +466,7 @@ static void set_string(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     char *str;
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -666,7 +680,7 @@ static void set_vlan(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     NetClientState *hubport;
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -737,7 +751,7 @@ static void set_mac(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     char *str, *p;
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -825,7 +839,7 @@ static void set_pci_devfn(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     char *str;
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -895,7 +909,7 @@ static void set_blocksize(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     const int64_t max = 32768;
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -963,7 +977,7 @@ static void set_pci_host_devaddr(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     unsigned int slot = 0, func = 0;
 
     if (dev->state != DEV_STATE_CREATED) {
-        error_set(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        report_already_realized(errp, dev, name);
         return;
     }
 
