diff --git a/tests/test-char.c b/tests/test-char.c
index 614bdac2df..d35cc839bc 100644
--- a/tests/test-char.c
+++ b/tests/test-char.c
@@ -1200,7 +1200,7 @@ static void char_serial_test(void)
 
     /* test tty alias */
     qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "tty", &error_abort);
-    chr = qemu_chr_new_from_opts(opts, NULL, NULL);
+    chr = qemu_chr_new_from_opts(opts, NULL, &error_abort);
     g_assert_nonnull(chr);
     object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));