diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 1f90b47..75afed1 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -1487,11 +1487,17 @@
 
         assert(file == NULL);
         bs->open_flags = flags;
-        ret = bdrv_open_image(&file, filename, options, "file",
-                              bs, &child_file, true, &local_err);
-        if (ret < 0) {
+
+        bs->file_child = bdrv_open_child(filename, options, "file", bs,
+                                         &child_file, true, &local_err);
+        if (local_err) {
+            ret = -EINVAL;
             goto fail;
         }
+
+        if (bs->file_child) {
+            file = bs->file_child->bs;
+        }
     }
 
     /* Image format probing */