diff --git a/db/column_family.cc b/db/column_family.cc
index 9e74df5835..b2670cbdb2 100644
--- a/db/column_family.cc
+++ b/db/column_family.cc
@@ -544,16 +544,16 @@ void ColumnFamilyData::ResetThreadLocalSuperVersions() {
   }
 }
 
-bool ColumnFamilyData::SetOptions(
+Status ColumnFamilyData::SetOptions(
       const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>& options_map) {
   MutableCFOptions new_mutable_cf_options;
-  if (GetMutableOptionsFromStrings(mutable_cf_options_, options_map,
-                                   &new_mutable_cf_options)) {
+  Status s = GetMutableOptionsFromStrings(mutable_cf_options_, options_map,
+                                          &new_mutable_cf_options);
+  if (s.ok()) {
     mutable_cf_options_ = new_mutable_cf_options;
     mutable_cf_options_.RefreshDerivedOptions(ioptions_);
-    return true;
   }
-  return false;
+  return s;
 }
 
 ColumnFamilySet::ColumnFamilySet(const std::string& dbname,
diff --git a/db/column_family.h b/db/column_family.h
index b37b684faf..013c296150 100644
--- a/db/column_family.h
+++ b/db/column_family.h
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ class ColumnFamilyData {
     return &mutable_cf_options_;
   }
   // REQUIRES: DB mutex held
-  bool SetOptions(
+  Status SetOptions(
       const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>& options_map);
 
   InternalStats* internal_stats() { return internal_stats_.get(); }
diff --git a/db/db_impl.cc b/db/db_impl.cc
index b5b77882ee..2bbb3345fd 100644
--- a/db/db_impl.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl.cc
@@ -1142,23 +1142,23 @@ Status DBImpl::CompactRange(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
   return s;
 }
 
-bool DBImpl::SetOptions(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
+Status DBImpl::SetOptions(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
     const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>& options_map) {
   auto* cfd = reinterpret_cast<ColumnFamilyHandleImpl*>(column_family)->cfd();
   if (options_map.empty()) {
     Log(InfoLogLevel::WARN_LEVEL,
         db_options_.info_log, "SetOptions() on column family [%s], empty input",
         cfd->GetName().c_str());
-    return false;
+    return Status::InvalidArgument("empty input");
   }
 
   MutableCFOptions new_options;
-  bool succeed = false;
+  Status s;
   {
     MutexLock l(&mutex_);
-    if (cfd->SetOptions(options_map)) {
+    s = cfd->SetOptions(options_map);
+    if (s.ok()) {
       new_options = *cfd->GetLatestMutableCFOptions();
-      succeed = true;
     }
   }
 
@@ -1169,7 +1169,7 @@ bool DBImpl::SetOptions(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
     Log(InfoLogLevel::INFO_LEVEL, db_options_.info_log,
         "%s: %s\n", o.first.c_str(), o.second.c_str());
   }
-  if (succeed) {
+  if (s.ok()) {
     Log(InfoLogLevel::INFO_LEVEL,
         db_options_.info_log, "[%s] SetOptions succeeded",
         cfd->GetName().c_str());
@@ -1178,7 +1178,7 @@ bool DBImpl::SetOptions(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
     Log(InfoLogLevel::WARN_LEVEL, db_options_.info_log,
         "[%s] SetOptions failed", cfd->GetName().c_str());
   }
-  return succeed;
+  return s;
 }
 
 // return the same level if it cannot be moved
diff --git a/db/db_impl.h b/db/db_impl.h
index 5aa1eb8eda..8717dee90a 100644
--- a/db/db_impl.h
+++ b/db/db_impl.h
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class DBImpl : public DB {
                               uint32_t target_path_id = 0);
 
   using DB::SetOptions;
-  bool SetOptions(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
+  Status SetOptions(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
       const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>& options_map);
 
   using DB::NumberLevels;
diff --git a/db/db_test.cc b/db/db_test.cc
index 8f9972bd2b..7aea863f8a 100644
--- a/db/db_test.cc
+++ b/db/db_test.cc
@@ -8453,7 +8453,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicMemtableOptions) {
   ASSERT_EQ(NumTableFilesAtLevel(0), 0);
 
   // Increase buffer size
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"write_buffer_size", "131072"},
   }));
 
@@ -8495,7 +8495,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicMemtableOptions) {
   sleeping_task_low1.WaitUntilDone();
 
   // Increase
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"max_write_buffer_number", "8"},
   }));
   // Clean up memtable and L0
@@ -8514,7 +8514,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicMemtableOptions) {
   sleeping_task_low2.WaitUntilDone();
 
   // Decrease
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"max_write_buffer_number", "4"},
   }));
   // Clean up memtable and L0
@@ -8593,7 +8593,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   // Writing to 64KB L0 files should trigger a compaction. Since these
   // 2 L0 files have the same key range, compaction merge them and should
   // result in 2 32KB L1 files.
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"level0_file_num_compaction_trigger", "2"},
     {"target_file_size_base", std::to_string(k32KB) }
   }));
@@ -8615,7 +8615,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   // Increase level base size to 256KB and write enough data that will
   // fill L1 and L2. L1 size should be around 256KB while L2 size should be
   // around 256KB x 4.
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"max_bytes_for_level_base", std::to_string(k1MB) }
   }));
 
@@ -8636,7 +8636,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   // max_bytes_for_level_base. Now, reduce both mulitplier and level base,
   // After filling enough data that can fit in L1 - L3, we should see L1 size
   // reduces to 128KB from 256KB which was asserted previously. Same for L2.
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"max_bytes_for_level_multiplier", "2"},
     {"max_bytes_for_level_base", std::to_string(k128KB) }
   }));
@@ -8678,7 +8678,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   // Now reduce level0_stop_writes_trigger to 6. Clear up memtables and L0.
   // Block compaction thread again. Perform the put and memtable flushes
   // until we see timeout after 6 memtable flushes.
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"level0_stop_writes_trigger", "6"}
   }));
   dbfull()->CompactRange(nullptr, nullptr);
@@ -8703,7 +8703,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   // 4 L0 files and compaction should be triggered. If auto compaction is
   // disabled, then TEST_WaitForCompact will be waiting for nothing. Number of
   // L0 files do not change after the call.
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"disable_auto_compactions", "true"}
   }));
   dbfull()->CompactRange(nullptr, nullptr);
@@ -8719,7 +8719,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
 
   // Enable auto compaction and perform the same test, # of L0 files should be
   // reduced after compaction.
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"disable_auto_compactions", "false"}
   }));
   dbfull()->CompactRange(nullptr, nullptr);
@@ -8737,7 +8737,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   // First change max_bytes_for_level_base to a big value and populate
   // L1 - L3. Then thrink max_bytes_for_level_base and disable auto compaction
   // at the same time, we should see some level with score greater than 2.
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"max_bytes_for_level_base", std::to_string(k1MB) }
   }));
   // writing 40 x 64KB = 10 x 256KB
@@ -8754,7 +8754,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
                SizeAtLevel(3) < 4 * k1MB * 1.2));
   // Reduce max_bytes_for_level_base and disable compaction at the same time
   // This should cause score to increase
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"disable_auto_compactions", "true"},
     {"max_bytes_for_level_base", "65536"},
   }));
@@ -8769,7 +8769,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   // Enfoce hard rate limit. Now set hard_rate_limit to 2,
   // we should start to see put delay (1000 us) and timeout as a result
   // (L0 score is not regulated by this limit).
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"hard_rate_limit", "2"}
   }));
   ASSERT_OK(Put(Key(count), RandomString(&rnd, 1024)));
@@ -8781,7 +8781,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   ASSERT_TRUE(Put(Key(count), RandomString(&rnd, 1024), wo).IsTimedOut());
 
   // Lift the limit and no timeout
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"hard_rate_limit", "100"}
   }));
   dbfull()->TEST_FlushMemTable(true);
@@ -8807,7 +8807,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   ASSERT_TRUE(Put("max_mem_compaction_level_key",
               RandomString(&rnd, 8)).ok());
   // Set new value and it becomes effective in this flush
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"max_mem_compaction_level", "1"}
   }));
   dbfull()->TEST_FlushMemTable(true);
@@ -8818,7 +8818,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicCompactionOptions) {
   ASSERT_TRUE(Put("max_mem_compaction_level_key",
               RandomString(&rnd, 8)).ok());
   // Set new value and it becomes effective in this flush
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"max_mem_compaction_level", "0"}
   }));
   dbfull()->TEST_FlushMemTable(true);
@@ -8994,7 +8994,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicMiscOptions) {
   // No reseek
   assert_reseek_count(100, 0);
 
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"max_sequential_skip_in_iterations", "4"}
   }));
   // Clear memtable and make new option effective
@@ -9002,7 +9002,7 @@ TEST(DBTest, DynamicMiscOptions) {
   // Trigger reseek
   assert_reseek_count(200, 1);
 
-  ASSERT_TRUE(dbfull()->SetOptions({
+  ASSERT_OK(dbfull()->SetOptions({
     {"max_sequential_skip_in_iterations", "16"}
   }));
   // Clear memtable and make new option effective
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/db.h b/include/rocksdb/db.h
index 0653a83868..21fa438380 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/db.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/db.h
@@ -359,11 +359,11 @@ class DB {
     return CompactRange(DefaultColumnFamily(), begin, end, reduce_level,
                         target_level, target_path_id);
   }
-  virtual bool SetOptions(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
+  virtual Status SetOptions(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
       const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>& new_options) {
-    return true;
+    return Status::NotSupported("Not implemented");
   }
-  virtual bool SetOptions(
+  virtual Status SetOptions(
       const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>& new_options) {
     return SetOptions(DefaultColumnFamily(), new_options);
   }
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/utilities/stackable_db.h b/include/rocksdb/utilities/stackable_db.h
index 417378f5dd..50c6a64848 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/utilities/stackable_db.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/utilities/stackable_db.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 // found in the LICENSE file. See the AUTHORS file for names of contributors.
 
 #pragma once
+#include <string>
 #include "rocksdb/db.h"
 
 namespace rocksdb {
@@ -203,6 +204,12 @@ class StackableDB : public DB {
     return db_->GetDbIdentity(identity);
   }
 
+  using DB::SetOptions;
+  virtual Status SetOptions(
+    const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>& new_options) override {
+    return db_->SetOptions(new_options);
+  }
+
   using DB::GetPropertiesOfAllTables;
   virtual Status GetPropertiesOfAllTables(ColumnFamilyHandle* column_family,
                                           TablePropertiesCollection* props) {
diff --git a/tools/db_stress.cc b/tools/db_stress.cc
index d2bdec7e05..42d0fb5343 100644
--- a/tools/db_stress.cc
+++ b/tools/db_stress.cc
@@ -1298,7 +1298,7 @@ class StressTest {
     return s;
   }
 
-  bool SetOptions(ThreadState* thread) {
+  Status SetOptions(ThreadState* thread) {
     assert(FLAGS_set_options_one_in > 0);
     std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string> opts;
     std::string name = options_index_[
diff --git a/util/options_helper.cc b/util/options_helper.cc
index 9b95150c5a..268a67a995 100644
--- a/util/options_helper.cc
+++ b/util/options_helper.cc
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ bool ParseMiscOptions(const std::string& name, const std::string& value,
   return true;
 }
 
-bool GetMutableOptionsFromStrings(
+Status GetMutableOptionsFromStrings(
     const MutableCFOptions& base_options,
     const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>& options_map,
     MutableCFOptions* new_options) {
@@ -177,13 +177,14 @@ bool GetMutableOptionsFromStrings(
       } else if (ParseCompactionOptions(o.first, o.second, new_options)) {
       } else if (ParseMiscOptions(o.first, o.second, new_options)) {
       } else {
-        return false;
+        return Status::InvalidArgument(
+            "unsupported dynamic option: " + o.first);
       }
     }
-  } catch (std::exception) {
-    return false;
+  } catch (std::exception& e) {
+    return Status::InvalidArgument("error parsing " + std::string(e.what()));
   }
-  return true;
+  return Status::OK();
 }
 
 namespace {
diff --git a/util/options_helper.h b/util/options_helper.h
index c04d2a5d7c..62373b2d51 100644
--- a/util/options_helper.h
+++ b/util/options_helper.h
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 
 #include <string>
 #include "util/mutable_cf_options.h"
+#include "rocksdb/status.h"
 
 namespace rocksdb {
 
-bool GetMutableOptionsFromStrings(
+Status GetMutableOptionsFromStrings(
     const MutableCFOptions& base_options,
     const std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>& options_map,
     MutableCFOptions* new_options);