diff --git a/nbd/server.c b/nbd/server.c
index 98d0fa2515..4fb247b116 100644
--- a/nbd/server.c
+++ b/nbd/server.c
@@ -2177,7 +2177,8 @@ static coroutine_fn int nbd_do_cmd_read(NBDClient *client, NBDRequest *request,
     }
 
     if (client->structured_reply && !(request->flags & NBD_CMD_FLAG_DF) &&
-        request->len) {
+        request->len && request->type != NBD_CMD_CACHE)
+    {
         return nbd_co_send_sparse_read(client, request->handle, request->from,
                                        data, request->len, errp);
     }