diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c b/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
index 09f3be85b5..b9bce144c8 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
@@ -537,6 +537,11 @@ libxlMakeDisk(virDomainDefPtr def, virDomainDiskDefPtr l_disk,
     x_disk->unpluggable = 1;
     x_disk->readwrite = !l_disk->readonly;
     x_disk->is_cdrom = l_disk->device == VIR_DOMAIN_DISK_DEVICE_CDROM ? 1 : 0;
+    if (l_disk->transient) {
+        libxlError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR, "%s",
+                   _("libxenlight does not support transient disks"));
+        return -1;
+    }
 
     x_disk->domid = def->id;
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
index c7c183a012..153647ab69 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
@@ -1594,6 +1594,11 @@ qemuBuildDriveStr(virDomainDiskDefPtr disk,
     if (disk->readonly &&
         qemuCapsGet(qemuCaps, QEMU_CAPS_DRIVE_READONLY))
         virBufferAddLit(&opt, ",readonly=on");
+    if (disk->transient) {
+        qemuReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED, "%s",
+                        _("transient disks not supported yet"));
+        goto error;
+    }
     if (disk->driverType && *disk->driverType != '\0' &&
         disk->type != VIR_DOMAIN_DISK_TYPE_DIR &&
         qemuCapsGet(qemuCaps, QEMU_CAPS_DRIVE_FORMAT))
diff --git a/src/xenxs/xen_sxpr.c b/src/xenxs/xen_sxpr.c
index 086ad8b76b..72322a7bc7 100644
--- a/src/xenxs/xen_sxpr.c
+++ b/src/xenxs/xen_sxpr.c
@@ -1713,6 +1713,11 @@ xenFormatSxprDisk(virDomainDiskDefPtr def,
         virBufferAddLit(buf, "(mode 'w!')");
     else
         virBufferAddLit(buf, "(mode 'w')");
+    if (def->transient) {
+        XENXS_ERROR(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED,
+                    _("transient disks not supported yet"));
+        return -1;
+    }
 
     if (!isAttach)
         virBufferAddLit(buf, ")");
diff --git a/src/xenxs/xen_xm.c b/src/xenxs/xen_xm.c
index cb31226be7..03857c81e9 100644
--- a/src/xenxs/xen_xm.c
+++ b/src/xenxs/xen_xm.c
@@ -1164,6 +1164,11 @@ static int xenFormatXMDisk(virConfValuePtr list,
         virBufferAddLit(&buf, ",!");
     else
         virBufferAddLit(&buf, ",w");
+    if (disk->transient) {
+        XENXS_ERROR(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED,
+                    _("transient disks not supported yet"));
+        return -1;
+    }
 
     if (virBufferError(&buf)) {
         virReportOOMError();