diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 6b91750acf..0a95ad76f6 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -13831,7 +13831,8 @@ qemuDomainSnapshotPrepare(virConnectPtr conn,
 
         case VIR_DOMAIN_SNAPSHOT_LOCATION_NONE:
             /* Remember seeing a disk that has snapshot disabled */
-            if (!dom_disk->src->readonly)
+            if (!virStorageSourceIsEmpty(dom_disk->src) &&
+                !dom_disk->src->readonly)
                 forbid_internal = true;
             break;