diff --git a/tools/virsh-domain.c b/tools/virsh-domain.c
index 5468365c45..506baf44cc 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-domain.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-domain.c
@@ -10175,7 +10175,12 @@ cmdDetachDisk(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd)
     if (vshCommandOptStringReq(ctl, cmd, "target", &target) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
-    if (!(doc = virDomainGetXMLDesc(dom, 0)))
+    if (flags == VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_CONFIG)
+        doc = virDomainGetXMLDesc(dom, VIR_DOMAIN_XML_INACTIVE);
+    else
+        doc = virDomainGetXMLDesc(dom, 0);
+
+    if (!doc)
         goto cleanup;
 
     if (persistent &&