diff --git a/block/qcow2-refcount.c b/block/qcow2-refcount.c
index 3d29d30f03..92519ea62a 100644
--- a/block/qcow2-refcount.c
+++ b/block/qcow2-refcount.c
@@ -532,8 +532,6 @@ static int update_cluster_refcount(BlockDriverState *bs,
         return ret;
     }
 
-    bdrv_flush(bs->file);
-
     return get_refcount(bs, cluster_index);
 }