diff --git a/block/qcow2.c b/block/qcow2.c
index f2fb54c51f..90a2dd406b 100644
--- a/block/qcow2.c
+++ b/block/qcow2.c
@@ -516,12 +516,9 @@ int qcow2_mark_dirty(BlockDriverState *bs)
     }
 
     val = cpu_to_be64(s->incompatible_features | QCOW2_INCOMPAT_DIRTY);
-    ret = bdrv_pwrite(bs->file, offsetof(QCowHeader, incompatible_features),
-                      sizeof(val), &val, 0);
-    if (ret < 0) {
-        return ret;
-    }
-    ret = bdrv_flush(bs->file->bs);
+    ret = bdrv_pwrite_sync(bs->file,
+                           offsetof(QCowHeader, incompatible_features),
+                           sizeof(val), &val, 0);
     if (ret < 0) {
         return ret;
     }