diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend_zfs.c b/src/storage/storage_backend_zfs.c
index 4129aaeb6d..077543d9f2 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend_zfs.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend_zfs.c
@@ -301,6 +301,12 @@ virStorageBackendZFSCreateVol(virConnectPtr conn ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
     int ret = -1;
     int volmode_needed = -1;
 
+    if (vol->target.format != VIR_STORAGE_FILE_RAW) {
+        virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED, "%s",
+                       _("only RAW volumes are supported by this storage pool"));
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     vol->type = VIR_STORAGE_VOL_BLOCK;
 
     VIR_FREE(vol->target.path);