diff --git a/include/qapi/error.h b/include/qapi/error.h
index f5fe216262..41e3816380 100644
--- a/include/qapi/error.h
+++ b/include/qapi/error.h
@@ -437,6 +437,8 @@ Error *error_copy(const Error *err);
  */
 void error_free(Error *err);
 
+G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC(Error, error_free)
+
 /*
  * Convenience function to assert that *@errp is set, then silently free it.
  */