diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_block.c b/src/qemu/qemu_block.c
index 14c020894f..2a432c8d1d 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_block.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_block.c
@@ -3291,6 +3291,25 @@ qemuBlockStorageSourceNeedsStorageSliceLayer(const virStorageSource *src)
 }
 
 
+/**
+ * qemuBlockStorageSourceNeedsFormatLayer:
+ * @src: storage source
+ *
+ * Returns true if configuration of @src requires a 'format' layer -blockdev.
+ *
+ * Important: This helper must be used only for decisions when setting up a
+ * '-blockdev' backend in which case the format layer node name will be populated.
+ * Any cases when the backend can be already in use must decide based on the
+ * existence of the format layer nodename.
+ */
+bool
+qemuBlockStorageSourceNeedsFormatLayer(const virStorageSource *src G_GNUC_UNUSED)
+{
+    /* Currently we always create a 'format' layer */
+    return true;
+}
+
+
 /**
  * qemuBlockStorageSourceGetCookieString:
  * @src: storage source
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_block.h b/src/qemu/qemu_block.h
index 85616a140d..dcd8a6ed6c 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_block.h
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_block.h
@@ -280,6 +280,9 @@ qemuBlockReopenReadOnly(virDomainObj *vm,
 bool
 qemuBlockStorageSourceNeedsStorageSliceLayer(const virStorageSource *src);
 
+bool
+qemuBlockStorageSourceNeedsFormatLayer(const virStorageSource *src);
+
 char *
 qemuBlockStorageSourceGetCookieString(virStorageSource *src);