diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 63effd8769..e7a986c48a 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ int bdrv_create_file(const char* filename, QEMUOptionParameter *options)
 
     drv = bdrv_find_protocol(filename);
     if (drv == NULL) {
-        drv = bdrv_find_format("file");
+        return -ENOENT;
     }
 
     return bdrv_create(drv, filename, options);