diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_blockjob.c b/src/qemu/qemu_blockjob.c
index d55eb48605..292610d089 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_blockjob.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_blockjob.c
@@ -536,6 +536,28 @@ qemuBlockJobEventProcessLegacy(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
 }
 
 
+static void
+qemuBlockJobEventProcessConcludedRemoveChain(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
+                                             virDomainObjPtr vm,
+                                             qemuDomainAsyncJob asyncJob,
+                                             virStorageSourcePtr chain)
+{
+    VIR_AUTOPTR(qemuBlockStorageSourceChainData) data = NULL;
+
+    if (!(data = qemuBlockStorageSourceChainDetachPrepareBlockdev(chain)))
+        return;
+
+    if (qemuDomainObjEnterMonitorAsync(driver, vm, asyncJob) < 0)
+        return;
+
+    qemuBlockStorageSourceChainDetach(qemuDomainGetMonitor(vm), data);
+    if (qemuDomainObjExitMonitor(driver, vm) < 0)
+        return;
+
+    qemuDomainStorageSourceChainAccessRevoke(driver, vm, chain);
+}
+
+
 static void
 qemuBlockJobEventProcessConcludedTransition(qemuBlockJobDataPtr job,
                                             virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
@@ -652,6 +674,16 @@ qemuBlockJobEventProcessConcluded(qemuBlockJobDataPtr job,
 
     qemuBlockJobEventProcessConcludedTransition(job, driver, vm, asyncJob);
 
+    /* unplug the backing chains in case the job inherited them */
+    if (!job->disk) {
+        if (job->chain)
+            qemuBlockJobEventProcessConcludedRemoveChain(driver, vm, asyncJob,
+                                                         job->chain);
+        if (job->mirrorChain)
+            qemuBlockJobEventProcessConcludedRemoveChain(driver, vm, asyncJob,
+                                                         job->mirrorChain);
+    }
+
  cleanup:
     if (dismissed) {
         qemuBlockJobUnregister(job, vm);