diff --git a/block/qcow2.c b/block/qcow2.c
index 3376901bd7..42ea7ec76d 100644
--- a/block/qcow2.c
+++ b/block/qcow2.c
@@ -1402,7 +1402,7 @@ static int qcow2_create(const char *filename, QEMUOptionParameter *options)
     int flags = 0;
     size_t cluster_size = DEFAULT_CLUSTER_SIZE;
     int prealloc = 0;
-    int version = 2;
+    int version = 3;
 
     /* Read out options */
     while (options && options->name) {