diff --git a/block/vmdk.c b/block/vmdk.c
index 393c84d..9d68ec5 100644
--- a/block/vmdk.c
+++ b/block/vmdk.c
@@ -943,6 +943,12 @@
     uint32_t magic;
     Error *local_err = NULL;
 
+    bs->file = bdrv_open_child(NULL, options, "file", bs, &child_file,
+                               false, errp);
+    if (!bs->file) {
+        return -EINVAL;
+    }
+
     buf = vmdk_read_desc(bs->file, 0, errp);
     if (!buf) {
         return -EINVAL;