diff --git a/assemblers/org.osbuild.qemu b/assemblers/org.osbuild.qemu
index 5add2143..808d2021 100755
--- a/assemblers/org.osbuild.qemu
+++ b/assemblers/org.osbuild.qemu
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def mount_api(dest):
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 def loop_device(loop_client, image, size, offset=0):
-    fd = os.open(image, os.O_RDWR)
+    fd = os.open(image, os.O_RDWR | os.O_DIRECT)
     devname = loop_client.create_device(fd, offset=offset, sizelimit=size)
     os.close(fd)
     path = f"/dev/{devname}"