diff --git a/block/qcow.c b/block/qcow.c
index 937dd6dd1c..3684794dee 100644
--- a/block/qcow.c
+++ b/block/qcow.c
@@ -48,9 +48,10 @@ typedef struct QCowHeader {
     uint64_t size; /* in bytes */
     uint8_t cluster_bits;
     uint8_t l2_bits;
+    uint16_t padding;
     uint32_t crypt_method;
     uint64_t l1_table_offset;
-} QCowHeader;
+} QEMU_PACKED QCowHeader;
 
 #define L2_CACHE_SIZE 16