diff --git a/include/io/task.h b/include/io/task.h
index 47daba9..ad90970 100644
--- a/include/io/task.h
+++ b/include/io/task.h
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@
 
 typedef struct QIOTask QIOTask;
 
-typedef void (*QIOTaskFunc)(Object *source,
-                            Error *err,
+typedef void (*QIOTaskFunc)(QIOTask *task,
                             gpointer opaque);
 
 typedef int (*QIOTaskWorker)(QIOTask *task,
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@
  * a public API which accepts a task callback:
  *
  * <example>
- *   <title>Task callback function signature</title>
+ *   <title>Task function signature</title>
  *   <programlisting>
  *  void myobject_operation(QMyObject *obj,
  *                          QIOTaskFunc *func,
@@ -57,12 +56,36 @@
  * is data to pass to it. The optional 'notify' function is used
  * to free 'opaque' when no longer needed.
  *
- * Now, lets say the implementation of this method wants to set
- * a timer to run once a second checking for completion of some
- * activity. It would do something like
+ * When the operation completes, the 'func' callback will be
+ * invoked, allowing the calling code to determine the result
+ * of the operation. An example QIOTaskFunc implementation may
+ * look like
  *
  * <example>
- *   <title>Task callback function implementation</title>
+ *   <title>Task callback implementation</title>
+ *   <programlisting>
+ *  static void myobject_operation_notify(QIOTask *task,
+ *                                        gpointer opaque)
+ *  {
+ *      Error *err = NULL;
+ *      if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, &err)) {
+ *          ...deal with the failure...
+ *          error_free(err);
+ *      } else {
+ *          QMyObject *src = QMY_OBJECT(qio_task_get_source(task));
+ *          ...deal with the completion...
+ *      }
+ *  }
+ *   </programlisting>
+ * </example>
+ *
+ * Now, lets say the implementation of the method using the
+ * task wants to set a timer to run once a second checking
+ * for completion of some activity. It would do something
+ * like
+ *
+ * <example>
+ *   <title>Task function implementation</title>
  *   <programlisting>
  *    void myobject_operation(QMyObject *obj,
  *                            QIOTaskFunc *func,
@@ -102,8 +125,8 @@
  *
  *      ...check something important...
  *       if (err) {
- *           qio_task_abort(task, err);
- *           error_free(task);
+ *           qio_task_set_error(task, err);
+ *           qio_task_complete(task);
  *           return FALSE;
  *       } else if (...work is completed ...) {
  *           qio_task_complete(task);
@@ -115,6 +138,10 @@
  *   </programlisting>
  * </example>
  *
+ * The 'qio_task_complete' call in this method will trigger
+ * the callback func 'myobject_operation_notify' shown
+ * earlier to deal with the results.
+ *
  * Once this function returns false, object_unref will be called
  * automatically on the task causing it to be released and the
  * ref on QMyObject dropped too.
@@ -187,8 +214,8 @@
  * 'err' attribute in the task object to determine if
  * the operation was successful or not.
  *
- * The returned task will be released when one of
- * qio_task_abort() or qio_task_complete() are invoked.
+ * The returned task will be released when qio_task_complete()
+ * is invoked.
  *
  * Returns: the task struct
  */
@@ -204,10 +231,8 @@
  * @opaque: opaque data to pass to @worker
  * @destroy: function to free @opaque
  *
- * Run a task in a background thread. If @worker
- * returns 0 it will call qio_task_complete() in
- * the main event thread context. If @worker
- * returns -1 it will call qio_task_abort() in
+ * Run a task in a background thread. When @worker
+ * returns it will call qio_task_complete() in
  * the main event thread context.
  */
 void qio_task_run_in_thread(QIOTask *task,
@@ -219,25 +244,11 @@
  * qio_task_complete:
  * @task: the task struct
  *
- * Mark the operation as successfully completed
- * and free the memory for @task.
+ * Invoke the completion callback for @task and
+ * then free its memory.
  */
 void qio_task_complete(QIOTask *task);
 
-/**
- * qio_task_abort:
- * @task: the task struct
- * @err: the error to record for the operation
- *
- * Mark the operation as failed, with @err providing
- * details about the failure. The @err may be freed
- * afer the function returns, as the notification
- * callback is invoked synchronously. The @task will
- * be freed when this call completes.
- */
-void qio_task_abort(QIOTask *task,
-                    Error *err);
-
 
 /**
  * qio_task_set_error:
diff --git a/io/channel-tls.c b/io/channel-tls.c
index cf3bcca..f25ab0a 100644
--- a/io/channel-tls.c
+++ b/io/channel-tls.c
@@ -153,8 +153,9 @@
 
     if (qcrypto_tls_session_handshake(ioc->session, &err) < 0) {
         trace_qio_channel_tls_handshake_fail(ioc);
-        qio_task_abort(task, err);
-        goto cleanup;
+        qio_task_set_error(task, err);
+        qio_task_complete(task);
+        return;
     }
 
     status = qcrypto_tls_session_get_handshake_status(ioc->session);
@@ -163,10 +164,10 @@
         if (qcrypto_tls_session_check_credentials(ioc->session,
                                                   &err) < 0) {
             trace_qio_channel_tls_credentials_deny(ioc);
-            qio_task_abort(task, err);
-            goto cleanup;
+            qio_task_set_error(task, err);
+        } else {
+            trace_qio_channel_tls_credentials_allow(ioc);
         }
-        trace_qio_channel_tls_credentials_allow(ioc);
         qio_task_complete(task);
     } else {
         GIOCondition condition;
@@ -183,9 +184,6 @@
                               task,
                               NULL);
     }
-
- cleanup:
-    error_free(err);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/io/channel-websock.c b/io/channel-websock.c
index f45bced..e47279a 100644
--- a/io/channel-websock.c
+++ b/io/channel-websock.c
@@ -279,8 +279,8 @@
 
     if (ret < 0) {
         trace_qio_channel_websock_handshake_fail(ioc);
-        qio_task_abort(task, err);
-        error_free(err);
+        qio_task_set_error(task, err);
+        qio_task_complete(task);
         return FALSE;
     }
 
@@ -307,8 +307,8 @@
     ret = qio_channel_websock_handshake_read(wioc, &err);
     if (ret < 0) {
         trace_qio_channel_websock_handshake_fail(ioc);
-        qio_task_abort(task, err);
-        error_free(err);
+        qio_task_set_error(task, err);
+        qio_task_complete(task);
         return FALSE;
     }
     if (ret == 0) {
diff --git a/io/task.c b/io/task.c
index 1394e05..42e1a75 100644
--- a/io/task.c
+++ b/io/task.c
@@ -87,13 +87,11 @@
     struct QIOTaskThreadData *data = opaque;
 
     trace_qio_task_thread_result(data->task);
-    if (data->ret == 0) {
-        qio_task_complete(data->task);
-    } else {
-        qio_task_abort(data->task, data->err);
+    if (data->err) {
+        qio_task_set_error(data->task, data->err);
     }
+    qio_task_complete(data->task);
 
-    error_free(data->err);
     if (data->destroy) {
         data->destroy(data->opaque);
     }
@@ -149,19 +147,11 @@
 
 void qio_task_complete(QIOTask *task)
 {
-    task->func(task->source, NULL, task->opaque);
+    task->func(task, task->opaque);
     trace_qio_task_complete(task);
     qio_task_free(task);
 }
 
-void qio_task_abort(QIOTask *task,
-                    Error *err)
-{
-    task->func(task->source, err, task->opaque);
-    trace_qio_task_abort(task);
-    qio_task_free(task);
-}
-
 
 void qio_task_set_error(QIOTask *task,
                         Error *err)
diff --git a/io/trace-events b/io/trace-events
index e31b596..ff993be 100644
--- a/io/trace-events
+++ b/io/trace-events
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 # io/task.c
 qio_task_new(void *task, void *source, void *func, void *opaque) "Task new task=%p source=%p func=%p opaque=%p"
 qio_task_complete(void *task) "Task complete task=%p"
-qio_task_abort(void *task) "Task abort task=%p"
 qio_task_thread_start(void *task, void *worker, void *opaque) "Task thread start task=%p worker=%p opaque=%p"
 qio_task_thread_run(void *task) "Task thread run task=%p"
 qio_task_thread_exit(void *task) "Task thread exit task=%p"
diff --git a/migration/socket.c b/migration/socket.c
index 11f80b1..13966f1 100644
--- a/migration/socket.c
+++ b/migration/socket.c
@@ -70,22 +70,23 @@
     g_free(data);
 }
 
-static void socket_outgoing_migration(Object *src,
-                                      Error *err,
+static void socket_outgoing_migration(QIOTask *task,
                                       gpointer opaque)
 {
     struct SocketConnectData *data = opaque;
-    QIOChannel *sioc = QIO_CHANNEL(src);
+    QIOChannel *sioc = QIO_CHANNEL(qio_task_get_source(task));
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    if (err) {
+    if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, &err)) {
         trace_migration_socket_outgoing_error(error_get_pretty(err));
         data->s->to_dst_file = NULL;
         migrate_fd_error(data->s, err);
+        error_free(err);
     } else {
         trace_migration_socket_outgoing_connected(data->hostname);
         migration_channel_connect(data->s, sioc, data->hostname);
     }
-    object_unref(src);
+    object_unref(OBJECT(sioc));
 }
 
 static void socket_start_outgoing_migration(MigrationState *s,
diff --git a/migration/tls.c b/migration/tls.c
index 49ca9a8..203c11d 100644
--- a/migration/tls.c
+++ b/migration/tls.c
@@ -61,15 +61,15 @@
 }
 
 
-static void migration_tls_incoming_handshake(Object *src,
-                                             Error *err,
+static void migration_tls_incoming_handshake(QIOTask *task,
                                              gpointer opaque)
 {
-    QIOChannel *ioc = QIO_CHANNEL(src);
+    QIOChannel *ioc = QIO_CHANNEL(qio_task_get_source(task));
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    if (err) {
+    if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, &err)) {
         trace_migration_tls_incoming_handshake_error(error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
     } else {
         trace_migration_tls_incoming_handshake_complete();
         migration_channel_process_incoming(migrate_get_current(), ioc);
@@ -107,17 +107,18 @@
 }
 
 
-static void migration_tls_outgoing_handshake(Object *src,
-                                             Error *err,
+static void migration_tls_outgoing_handshake(QIOTask *task,
                                              gpointer opaque)
 {
     MigrationState *s = opaque;
-    QIOChannel *ioc = QIO_CHANNEL(src);
+    QIOChannel *ioc = QIO_CHANNEL(qio_task_get_source(task));
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    if (err) {
+    if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, &err)) {
         trace_migration_tls_outgoing_handshake_error(error_get_pretty(err));
         s->to_dst_file = NULL;
         migrate_fd_error(s, err);
+        error_free(err);
     } else {
         trace_migration_tls_outgoing_handshake_complete();
         migration_channel_connect(s, ioc, NULL);
diff --git a/nbd/common.c b/nbd/common.c
index b583a4f..a5f39ea 100644
--- a/nbd/common.c
+++ b/nbd/common.c
@@ -78,15 +78,13 @@
 }
 
 
-void nbd_tls_handshake(Object *src,
-                       Error *err,
+void nbd_tls_handshake(QIOTask *task,
                        void *opaque)
 {
     struct NBDTLSHandshakeData *data = opaque;
 
-    if (err) {
-        TRACE("TLS failed %s", error_get_pretty(err));
-        data->error = error_copy(err);
+    if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, &data->error)) {
+        TRACE("TLS failed %s", error_get_pretty(data->error));
     }
     data->complete = true;
     g_main_loop_quit(data->loop);
diff --git a/nbd/nbd-internal.h b/nbd/nbd-internal.h
index eee20ab..f43d990 100644
--- a/nbd/nbd-internal.h
+++ b/nbd/nbd-internal.h
@@ -120,8 +120,7 @@
 };
 
 
-void nbd_tls_handshake(Object *src,
-                       Error *err,
+void nbd_tls_handshake(QIOTask *task,
                        void *opaque);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 676944a..d8da167 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -3277,14 +3277,13 @@
 }
 
 
-static void tcp_chr_tls_handshake(Object *source,
-                                  Error *err,
+static void tcp_chr_tls_handshake(QIOTask *task,
                                   gpointer user_data)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr = user_data;
     TCPCharDriver *s = chr->opaque;
 
-    if (err) {
+    if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, NULL)) {
         tcp_chr_disconnect(chr);
     } else {
         if (s->do_telnetopt) {
@@ -3492,20 +3491,23 @@
 }
 
 
-static void qemu_chr_socket_connected(Object *src, Error *err, void *opaque)
+static void qemu_chr_socket_connected(QIOTask *task, void *opaque)
 {
-    QIOChannelSocket *sioc = QIO_CHANNEL_SOCKET(src);
+    QIOChannelSocket *sioc = QIO_CHANNEL_SOCKET(qio_task_get_source(task));
     CharDriverState *chr = opaque;
     TCPCharDriver *s = chr->opaque;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    if (err) {
+    if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, &err)) {
         check_report_connect_error(chr, err);
-        object_unref(src);
-        return;
+        error_free(err);
+        goto cleanup;
     }
 
     s->connect_err_reported = false;
     tcp_chr_new_client(chr, sioc);
+
+ cleanup:
     object_unref(OBJECT(sioc));
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/test-io-channel-socket.c b/tests/test-io-channel-socket.c
index aa88c3c..aaa9116 100644
--- a/tests/test-io-channel-socket.c
+++ b/tests/test-io-channel-socket.c
@@ -156,12 +156,11 @@
 };
 
 
-static void test_io_channel_complete(Object *src,
-                                     Error *err,
+static void test_io_channel_complete(QIOTask *task,
                                      gpointer opaque)
 {
     struct TestIOChannelData *data = opaque;
-    data->err = err != NULL;
+    data->err = qio_task_propagate_error(task, NULL);
     g_main_loop_quit(data->loop);
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/test-io-channel-tls.c b/tests/test-io-channel-tls.c
index bd3ae2b..8eaa208 100644
--- a/tests/test-io-channel-tls.c
+++ b/tests/test-io-channel-tls.c
@@ -53,14 +53,13 @@
     bool failed;
 };
 
-static void test_tls_handshake_done(Object *source,
-                                    Error *err,
+static void test_tls_handshake_done(QIOTask *task,
                                     gpointer opaque)
 {
     struct QIOChannelTLSHandshakeData *data = opaque;
 
     data->finished = true;
-    data->failed = err != NULL;
+    data->failed = qio_task_propagate_error(task, NULL);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test-io-task.c b/tests/test-io-task.c
index 024eb58..84144c9 100644
--- a/tests/test-io-task.c
+++ b/tests/test-io-task.c
@@ -50,14 +50,13 @@
 };
 
 
-static void task_callback(Object *source,
-                          Error *err,
+static void task_callback(QIOTask *task,
                           gpointer opaque)
 {
     struct TestTaskData *data = opaque;
 
-    data->source = source;
-    data->err = err;
+    data->source = qio_task_get_source(task);
+    qio_task_propagate_error(task, &data->err);
 }
 
 
@@ -120,9 +119,9 @@
 
     error_setg(&err, "Some error");
 
-    qio_task_abort(task, err);
+    qio_task_set_error(task, err);
+    qio_task_complete(task);
 
-    error_free(err);
     object_unref(obj);
 
     g_assert(data.source == obj);
@@ -158,14 +157,13 @@
 }
 
 
-static void test_task_thread_callback(Object *source,
-                                      Error *err,
+static void test_task_thread_callback(QIOTask *task,
                                       gpointer opaque)
 {
     struct TestThreadWorkerData *data = opaque;
 
-    data->source = source;
-    data->err = err;
+    data->source = qio_task_get_source(task);
+    qio_task_propagate_error(task, &data->err);
 
     data->complete = g_thread_self();
 
diff --git a/ui/vnc-auth-vencrypt.c b/ui/vnc-auth-vencrypt.c
index c0c29a5..ffaab57 100644
--- a/ui/vnc-auth-vencrypt.c
+++ b/ui/vnc-auth-vencrypt.c
@@ -65,16 +65,17 @@
     }
 }
 
-static void vnc_tls_handshake_done(Object *source,
-                                   Error *err,
+static void vnc_tls_handshake_done(QIOTask *task,
                                    gpointer user_data)
 {
     VncState *vs = user_data;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    if (err) {
+    if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, &err)) {
         VNC_DEBUG("Handshake failed %s\n",
                   error_get_pretty(err));
         vnc_client_error(vs);
+        error_free(err);
     } else {
         vs->ioc_tag = qio_channel_add_watch(
             vs->ioc, G_IO_IN | G_IO_OUT, vnc_client_io, vs, NULL);
diff --git a/ui/vnc-ws.c b/ui/vnc-ws.c
index bffb484..f530cd5 100644
--- a/ui/vnc-ws.c
+++ b/ui/vnc-ws.c
@@ -24,15 +24,16 @@
 #include "io/channel-websock.h"
 #include "qemu/bswap.h"
 
-static void vncws_tls_handshake_done(Object *source,
-                                     Error *err,
+static void vncws_tls_handshake_done(QIOTask *task,
                                      gpointer user_data)
 {
     VncState *vs = user_data;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    if (err) {
+    if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, &err)) {
         VNC_DEBUG("Handshake failed %s\n", error_get_pretty(err));
         vnc_client_error(vs);
+        error_free(err);
     } else {
         VNC_DEBUG("TLS handshake complete, starting websocket handshake\n");
         vs->ioc_tag = qio_channel_add_watch(
@@ -83,15 +84,16 @@
 }
 
 
-static void vncws_handshake_done(Object *source,
-                                 Error *err,
+static void vncws_handshake_done(QIOTask *task,
                                  gpointer user_data)
 {
     VncState *vs = user_data;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    if (err) {
+    if (qio_task_propagate_error(task, &err)) {
         VNC_DEBUG("Websock handshake failed %s\n", error_get_pretty(err));
         vnc_client_error(vs);
+        error_free(err);
     } else {
         VNC_DEBUG("Websock handshake complete, starting VNC protocol\n");
         vnc_start_protocol(vs);