diff --git a/gnu/system/vm.scm b/gnu/system/vm.scm
index db055fa5fc..2413a97150 100644
--- a/gnu/system/vm.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/vm.scm
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ (define builder
          (setenv "PATH" cu)
 
          ,(if make-disk-image?
-              `(zero? (system* img "create" "image.qcow2"
+              `(zero? (system* img "create" "-f" "qcow2" "image.qcow2"
                                ,(number->string disk-image-size)))
               '(begin))