diff --git a/hw/sd/sd.c b/hw/sd/sd.c
index 1cc16bfd31..edd60a09c0 100644
--- a/hw/sd/sd.c
+++ b/hw/sd/sd.c
@@ -2105,12 +2105,12 @@ static void sd_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    if (sd->blk && blk_is_read_only(sd->blk)) {
-        error_setg(errp, "Cannot use read-only drive as SD card");
-        return;
-    }
-
     if (sd->blk) {
+        if (blk_is_read_only(sd->blk)) {
+            error_setg(errp, "Cannot use read-only drive as SD card");
+            return;
+        }
+
         ret = blk_set_perm(sd->blk, BLK_PERM_CONSISTENT_READ | BLK_PERM_WRITE,
                            BLK_PERM_ALL, errp);
         if (ret < 0) {