diff --git a/softmmu/qdev-monitor.c b/softmmu/qdev-monitor.c
index 4ca4e92ce20a43a8275771064d37cbae1eb033b9..60d73ad6cbc9e46db0190b20b4d8a0b9c0aa1ed5 100644
--- a/softmmu/qdev-monitor.c
+++ b/softmmu/qdev-monitor.c
@@ -1042,6 +1042,14 @@ int qemu_global_option(const char *str)
         return -1;
     }
 
+    if (!qemu_opt_get(opts, "driver")
+        || !qemu_opt_get(opts, "property")
+        || !qemu_opt_get(opts, "value")) {
+        error_report("options 'driver', 'property', and 'value'"
+                     " are required");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }