diff --git a/block/qcow2-refcount.c b/block/qcow2-refcount.c
index 565bd54902..6c383373de 100644
--- a/block/qcow2-refcount.c
+++ b/block/qcow2-refcount.c
@@ -587,6 +587,7 @@ int qcow2_alloc_clusters_at(BlockDriverState *bs, uint64_t offset,
 {
     BDRVQcowState *s = bs->opaque;
     uint64_t cluster_index;
+    uint64_t old_free_cluster_index;
     int i, refcount, ret;
 
     /* Check how many clusters there are free */
@@ -602,11 +603,16 @@ int qcow2_alloc_clusters_at(BlockDriverState *bs, uint64_t offset,
     }
 
     /* And then allocate them */
+    old_free_cluster_index = s->free_cluster_index;
+    s->free_cluster_index = cluster_index + i;
+
     ret = update_refcount(bs, offset, i << s->cluster_bits, 1);
     if (ret < 0) {
         return ret;
     }
 
+    s->free_cluster_index = old_free_cluster_index;
+
     return i;
 }