diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 63b4a49c3c..a98a2986f5 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -14687,7 +14687,7 @@ qemuDomainSnapshotPrepareDiskExternal(virDomainObjPtr vm,
     int err;
     int rc;
 
-    if (disk->src->readonly) {
+    if (disk->src->readonly && !(reuse || blockdev)) {
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED,
                        _("external snapshot for readonly disk %s "
                          "is not supported"), disk->dst);