diff --git a/qemu-nbd.c b/qemu-nbd.c
index 30eeb6f..70aa3c4 100644
--- a/qemu-nbd.c
+++ b/qemu-nbd.c
@@ -295,7 +295,9 @@
 static void *nbd_client_thread(void *arg)
 {
     struct NbdClientOpts *opts = arg;
-    NBDExportInfo info = { .request_sizes = false, .name = g_strdup("") };
+    /* TODO: Revisit this if nbd.ko ever gains support for structured reply */
+    NBDExportInfo info = { .request_sizes = false, .name = g_strdup(""),
+                           .mode = NBD_MODE_SIMPLE };
     QIOChannelSocket *sioc;
     int fd = -1;
     int ret = EXIT_FAILURE;