diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index 86e6bffdc4..d95569482a 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -2029,7 +2029,9 @@ void qmp_drive_mirror(const char *device, const char *target,
         return;
     }
 
-    if (sync == MIRROR_SYNC_MODE_FULL && mode != NEW_IMAGE_MODE_EXISTING) {
+    if ((sync == MIRROR_SYNC_MODE_FULL || !source)
+        && mode != NEW_IMAGE_MODE_EXISTING)
+    {
         /* create new image w/o backing file */
         assert(format && drv);
         bdrv_img_create(target, format,