diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/iotests.py b/tests/qemu-iotests/iotests.py
index 2fa5dcba76..740f8be36b 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/iotests.py
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/iotests.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #
 
+import argparse
 import atexit
 import bz2
 from collections import OrderedDict
@@ -161,11 +162,35 @@ def qemu_tool_pipe_and_status(tool: str, args: Sequence[str],
                                {-subp.returncode}: {cmd}\n')
         return (output, subp.returncode)
 
+def qemu_img_create_prepare_args(args: List[str]) -> List[str]:
+    if not args or args[0] != 'create':
+        return list(args)
+    args = args[1:]
+
+    p = argparse.ArgumentParser(allow_abbrev=False)
+    p.add_argument('-f')
+    parsed, remaining = p.parse_known_args(args)
+
+    result = ['create']
+    if parsed.f is not None:
+        result += ['-f', parsed.f]
+
+    # IMGOPTS most probably contain options specific for the selected format,
+    # like extended_l2 or compression_type for qcow2. Test may want to create
+    # additional images in other formats that doesn't support these options.
+    # So, use IMGOPTS only for images created in imgfmt format.
+    if parsed.f == imgfmt and 'IMGOPTS' in os.environ:
+        result += ['-o', os.environ['IMGOPTS']]
+
+    result += remaining
+
+    return result
+
 def qemu_img_pipe_and_status(*args: str) -> Tuple[str, int]:
     """
     Run qemu-img and return both its output and its exit code
     """
-    full_args = qemu_img_args + list(args)
+    full_args = qemu_img_args + qemu_img_create_prepare_args(list(args))
     return qemu_tool_pipe_and_status('qemu-img', full_args)
 
 def qemu_img(*args: str) -> int: