diff --git a/migration/migration.c b/migration/migration.c
index 969b03cdcd..c80fc7b94c 100644
--- a/migration/migration.c
+++ b/migration/migration.c
@@ -743,24 +743,6 @@ static void process_incoming_migration_bh(void *opaque)
 
     trace_vmstate_downtime_checkpoint("dst-precopy-bh-enter");
 
-    /* If capability late_block_activate is set:
-     * Only fire up the block code now if we're going to restart the
-     * VM, else 'cont' will do it.
-     * This causes file locking to happen; so we don't want it to happen
-     * unless we really are starting the VM.
-     */
-    if (!migrate_late_block_activate() ||
-        (autostart && runstate_is_live(migration_get_target_runstate()))) {
-        /* Make sure all file formats throw away their mutable metadata.
-         * If we get an error here, just don't restart the VM yet. */
-        bdrv_activate_all(&local_err);
-        if (local_err) {
-            error_report_err(local_err);
-            local_err = NULL;
-            autostart = false;
-        }
-    }
-
     /*
      * This must happen after all error conditions are dealt with and
      * we're sure the VM is going to be running on this host.
@@ -775,7 +757,25 @@ static void process_incoming_migration_bh(void *opaque)
 
     if (runstate_is_live(migration_get_target_runstate())) {
         if (autostart) {
-            vm_start();
+            /*
+             * Block activation is always delayed until VM starts, either
+             * here (which means we need to start the dest VM right now..),
+             * or until qmp_cont() later.
+             *
+             * We used to have cap 'late-block-activate' but now we do this
+             * unconditionally, as it has no harm but only benefit.  E.g.,
+             * it's not part of migration ABI on the time of disk activation.
+             *
+             * Make sure all file formats throw away their mutable
+             * metadata.  If error, don't restart the VM yet.
+             */
+            bdrv_activate_all(&local_err);
+            if (local_err) {
+                error_report_err(local_err);
+                local_err = NULL;
+            } else {
+                vm_start();
+            }
         } else {
             runstate_set(RUN_STATE_PAUSED);
         }