diff --git a/block/qcow2-cluster.c b/block/qcow2-cluster.c
index 78c95dfa16..17f1363279 100644
--- a/block/qcow2-cluster.c
+++ b/block/qcow2-cluster.c
@@ -1026,7 +1026,7 @@ err:
 void qcow2_alloc_cluster_abort(BlockDriverState *bs, QCowL2Meta *m)
 {
     BDRVQcow2State *s = bs->opaque;
-    if (!has_data_file(bs)) {
+    if (!has_data_file(bs) && !m->keep_old_clusters) {
         qcow2_free_clusters(bs, m->alloc_offset,
                             m->nb_clusters << s->cluster_bits,
                             QCOW2_DISCARD_NEVER);