1 files changed, 4 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 2ba76b2c36..b204b93a2e 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -6119,6 +6119,10 @@ void bdrv_img_create(const char *filename, const char *fmt,
                              "same filename as the backing file");
             goto out;
         }
+        if (backing_file[0] == '\0') {
+            error_setg(errp, "Expected backing file name, got empty string");
+            goto out;
+        }
     }
 
     backing_fmt = qemu_opt_get(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FMT);