diff --git a/block/qcow.c b/block/qcow.c
index c5cf813..312af52 100644
--- a/block/qcow.c
+++ b/block/qcow.c
@@ -162,10 +162,16 @@
     if (s->crypt_method_header) {
         if (bdrv_uses_whitelist() &&
             s->crypt_method_header == QCOW_CRYPT_AES) {
-            error_report("qcow built-in AES encryption is deprecated");
-            error_printf("Support for it will be removed in a future release.\n"
-                         "You can use 'qemu-img convert' to switch to an\n"
-                         "unencrypted qcow image, or a LUKS raw image.\n");
+            error_setg(errp,
+                       "Use of AES-CBC encrypted qcow images is no longer "
+                       "supported in system emulators");
+            error_append_hint(errp,
+                              "You can use 'qemu-img convert' to convert your "
+                              "image to an alternative supported format, such "
+                              "as unencrypted qcow, or raw with the LUKS "
+                              "format instead.\n");
+            ret = -ENOSYS;
+            goto fail;
         }
 
         bs->encrypted = 1;
diff --git a/block/qcow2.c b/block/qcow2.c
index cb55e2d..9de716a 100644
--- a/block/qcow2.c
+++ b/block/qcow2.c
@@ -968,10 +968,16 @@
     if (s->crypt_method_header) {
         if (bdrv_uses_whitelist() &&
             s->crypt_method_header == QCOW_CRYPT_AES) {
-            error_report("qcow2 built-in AES encryption is deprecated");
-            error_printf("Support for it will be removed in a future release.\n"
-                         "You can use 'qemu-img convert' to switch to an\n"
-                         "unencrypted qcow2 image, or a LUKS raw image.\n");
+            error_setg(errp,
+                       "Use of AES-CBC encrypted qcow2 images is no longer "
+                       "supported in system emulators");
+            error_append_hint(errp,
+                              "You can use 'qemu-img convert' to convert your "
+                              "image to an alternative supported format, such "
+                              "as unencrypted qcow2, or raw with the LUKS "
+                              "format instead.\n");
+            ret = -ENOSYS;
+            goto fail;
         }
 
         bs->encrypted = 1;
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/087.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/087.out
index 055c553..a95c4b0 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/087.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/087.out
@@ -42,22 +42,14 @@
 Testing: -S
 QMP_VERSION
 {"return": {}}
-IMGFMT built-in AES encryption is deprecated
-Support for it will be removed in a future release.
-You can use 'qemu-img convert' to switch to an
-unencrypted IMGFMT image, or a LUKS raw image.
-{"error": {"class": "GenericError", "desc": "blockdev-add doesn't support encrypted devices"}}
+{"error": {"class": "GenericError", "desc": "Use of AES-CBC encrypted IMGFMT images is no longer supported in system emulators"}}
 {"return": {}}
 {"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "SHUTDOWN"}
 
 Testing:
 QMP_VERSION
 {"return": {}}
-IMGFMT built-in AES encryption is deprecated
-Support for it will be removed in a future release.
-You can use 'qemu-img convert' to switch to an
-unencrypted IMGFMT image, or a LUKS raw image.
-{"error": {"class": "GenericError", "desc": "Guest must be stopped for opening of encrypted image"}}
+{"error": {"class": "GenericError", "desc": "Use of AES-CBC encrypted IMGFMT images is no longer supported in system emulators"}}
 {"return": {}}
 {"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "SHUTDOWN"}