diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index fce307728b..c45eadf4be 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -5524,11 +5524,6 @@ qemuDomainDeviceDefValidateDisk(const virDomainDiskDef *disk,
         return -1;
     }
 
-    for (n = disk->src; virStorageSourceIsBacking(n); n = n->backingStore) {
-        if (qemuDomainValidateStorageSource(n, qemuCaps) < 0)
-            return -1;
-    }
-
     if (disk->device == VIR_DOMAIN_DISK_DEVICE_CDROM &&
         disk->bus == VIR_DOMAIN_DISK_BUS_VIRTIO) {
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED,
@@ -5537,6 +5532,11 @@ qemuDomainDeviceDefValidateDisk(const virDomainDiskDef *disk,
         return -1;
     }
 
+    for (n = disk->src; virStorageSourceIsBacking(n); n = n->backingStore) {
+        if (qemuDomainValidateStorageSource(n, qemuCaps) < 0)
+            return -1;
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }