diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 9698f2ad44..c043f5eadd 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -3434,7 +3434,13 @@ int bdrv_reopen_prepare(BDRVReopenState *reopen_state, BlockReopenQueue *queue,
 
     drv_prepared = true;
 
-    if (drv->supports_backing && reopen_state->backing_missing) {
+    /*
+     * We must provide the 'backing' option if the BDS has a backing
+     * file or if the image file has a backing file name as part of
+     * its metadata. Otherwise the 'backing' option can be omitted.
+     */
+    if (drv->supports_backing && reopen_state->backing_missing &&
+        (backing_bs(reopen_state->bs) || reopen_state->bs->backing_file[0])) {
         error_setg(errp, "backing is missing for '%s'",
                    reopen_state->bs->node_name);
         ret = -EINVAL;