diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index 374189a426..d83bb2beda 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -1592,11 +1592,6 @@ static void external_snapshot_prepare(BlkActionState *common,
         }
     }
 
-    if (!bdrv_is_first_non_filter(state->old_bs)) {
-        error_setg(errp, QERR_FEATURE_DISABLED, "snapshot");
-        goto out;
-    }
-
     if (action->type == TRANSACTION_ACTION_KIND_BLOCKDEV_SNAPSHOT_SYNC) {
         BlockdevSnapshotSync *s = action->u.blockdev_snapshot_sync.data;
         const char *format = s->has_format ? s->format : "qcow2";