diff --git a/tests/avocado/kvm_xen_guest.py b/tests/avocado/kvm_xen_guest.py
index 5391283113..f8cb458d5d 100644
--- a/tests/avocado/kvm_xen_guest.py
+++ b/tests/avocado/kvm_xen_guest.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class KVMXenGuest(QemuSystemTest, LinuxSSHMixIn):
     def run_and_check(self):
         self.vm.add_args('-kernel', self.kernel_path,
                          '-append', self.kernel_params,
-                         '-drive',  f"file={self.rootfs},if=none,format=raw,id=drv0",
+                         '-drive',  f"file={self.rootfs},if=none,snapshot=on,format=raw,id=drv0",
                          '-device', 'xen-disk,drive=drv0,vdev=xvda',
                          '-device', 'virtio-net-pci,netdev=unet',
                          '-netdev', 'user,id=unet,hostfwd=:127.0.0.1:0-:22')