diff --git a/src/examples/local-v4l2.c b/src/examples/local-v4l2.c
index 4cd5de85f..6d5e3f93d 100644
--- a/src/examples/local-v4l2.c
+++ b/src/examples/local-v4l2.c
@@ -357,7 +357,6 @@ static void make_nodes(struct data *data)
 				 pw_node_find_port(data->node, PW_DIRECTION_INPUT, 0),
 				 NULL,
 				 NULL,
-				 NULL,
 				 0);
 	pw_link_register(data->link, NULL, NULL, NULL);
 
diff --git a/src/modules/module-link-factory.c b/src/modules/module-link-factory.c
index d40315df7..1498fc8ca 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-link-factory.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-link-factory.c
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ static void *create_object(void *_data,
 	uint32_t output_node_id, input_node_id;
 	uint32_t output_port_id, input_port_id;
 	struct link_data *ld;
-	char *error;
 	const char *str;
 	int res;
 	bool linger;
@@ -210,7 +209,7 @@ static void *create_object(void *_data,
 	str = pw_properties_get(properties, "object.linger");
 	linger = str ? pw_properties_parse_bool(str) : false;
 
-	link = pw_link_new(core, outport, inport, NULL, properties, &error, sizeof(struct link_data));
+	link = pw_link_new(core, outport, inport, NULL, properties, sizeof(struct link_data));
 	if (link == NULL)
 		goto no_mem;
 
@@ -265,8 +264,9 @@ static void *create_object(void *_data,
 	pw_resource_error(resource, -EINVAL, "unknown input port %u", input_port_id);
 	goto done;
       no_mem:
-	pw_log_error("can't create link: %s", error);
-	pw_resource_error(resource, -ENOMEM, "can't create link: %s", error);
+	res = -errno;
+	pw_log_error("can't create link: %s", spa_strerror(res));
+	pw_resource_error(resource, res, "can't create link: %s", spa_strerror(res));
 	goto done;
       no_bind:
 	pw_resource_error(resource, res, "can't bind link");
diff --git a/src/pipewire/link.c b/src/pipewire/link.c
index 2e48d9787..eecfbe1a0 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/link.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/link.c
@@ -1241,7 +1241,6 @@ struct pw_link *pw_link_new(struct pw_core *core,
 			    struct pw_port *input,
 			    struct spa_pod *format_filter,
 			    struct pw_properties *properties,
-			    char **error,
 			    size_t user_data_size)
 {
 	struct impl *impl;
@@ -1349,22 +1348,27 @@ struct pw_link *pw_link_new(struct pw_core *core,
 	return this;
 
       no_io:
-	asprintf(error, "can't set io %d (%s)", res, spa_strerror(res));
+	pw_log_error("can't set io %d (%s)", res, spa_strerror(res));
+	errno = -res;
 	return NULL;
       same_ports:
-	asprintf(error, "can't link the same ports");
+	pw_log_error("can't link the same ports");
+	errno = EINVAL;
 	return NULL;
       wrong_direction:
-	asprintf(error, "ports have wrong direction");
+	pw_log_error("ports have wrong direction");
+	errno = EINVAL;
 	return NULL;
       link_exists:
-	asprintf(error, "link already exists");
+	pw_log_error("link already exists");
+	errno = EEXIST;
 	return NULL;
       link_not_allowed:
-	asprintf(error, "link not allowed");
+	pw_log_error("link not allowed");
+	errno = EPERM;
 	return NULL;
       no_mem:
-	asprintf(error, "no memory");
+	pw_log_error("no memory");
 	return NULL;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/pipewire/link.h b/src/pipewire/link.h
index 45f3d4eaa..764d2ebdb 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/link.h
+++ b/src/pipewire/link.h
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ pw_link_new(struct pw_core *core,		/**< the core object */
 	    struct pw_port *input,		/**< an input port */
 	    struct spa_pod *format_filter,	/**< an optional format filter */
 	    struct pw_properties *properties	/**< extra properties */,
-	    char **error,			/**< error string when result is NULL */
 	    size_t user_data_size		/**< extra user data size */);
 
 /** Destroy a link \memberof pw_link */