diff --git a/glance/async_/flows/base_import.py b/glance/async_/flows/base_import.py
index e6bb526b4d..c0e2b72839 100644
--- a/glance/async_/flows/base_import.py
+++ b/glance/async_/flows/base_import.py
@@ -181,6 +181,16 @@ class _ImportToFS(task.Task):
                                                'bfile': backing_file}
             raise RuntimeError(msg)
 
+        try:
+            data_file = metadata['format-specific']['data']['data-file']
+        except KeyError:
+            data_file = None
+        if data_file is not None:
+            msg = _("File %(path)s has invalid data-file "
+                    "%(dfile)s, aborting.") % {"path": path,
+                                               "dfile": data_file}
+            raise RuntimeError(msg)
+
         return path
 
     def revert(self, image_id, result, **kwargs):
diff --git a/glance/async_/flows/plugins/image_conversion.py b/glance/async_/flows/plugins/image_conversion.py
index e977764fa8..4a9f754dc2 100644
--- a/glance/async_/flows/plugins/image_conversion.py
+++ b/glance/async_/flows/plugins/image_conversion.py
@@ -121,6 +121,14 @@ class _ConvertImage(task.Task):
             raise RuntimeError(
                 'QCOW images with backing files are not allowed')
 
+        try:
+            data_file = metadata['format-specific']['data']['data-file']
+        except KeyError:
+            data_file = None
+        if data_file is not None:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                'QCOW images with data-file set are not allowed')
+
         if metadata.get('format') == 'vmdk':
             create_type = metadata.get(
                 'format-specific', {}).get(
diff --git a/glance/tests/unit/async_/flows/plugins/test_image_conversion.py b/glance/tests/unit/async_/flows/plugins/test_image_conversion.py
index a60e2e1a59..bf8ca007d4 100644
--- a/glance/tests/unit/async_/flows/plugins/test_image_conversion.py
+++ b/glance/tests/unit/async_/flows/plugins/test_image_conversion.py
@@ -184,6 +184,22 @@ class TestConvertImageTask(test_utils.BaseTestCase):
             self.assertEqual('QCOW images with backing files are not allowed',
                              str(e))
 
+    def test_image_convert_invalid_qcow_data_file(self):
+        data = {'format': 'qcow2',
+                'format-specific': {
+                    'data': {
+                        'data-file': '/etc/hosts',
+                    },
+                }}
+
+        convert = self._setup_image_convert_info_fail()
+        with mock.patch.object(processutils, 'execute') as exc_mock:
+            exc_mock.return_value = json.dumps(data), ''
+            e = self.assertRaises(RuntimeError,
+                                  convert.execute, 'file:///test/path.qcow')
+            self.assertEqual('QCOW images with data-file set are not allowed',
+                             str(e))
+
     def _test_image_convert_invalid_vmdk(self):
         data = {'format': 'vmdk',
                 'format-specific': {
diff --git a/glance/tests/unit/async_/flows/test_import.py b/glance/tests/unit/async_/flows/test_import.py
index 79f6b6de57..55d6f09283 100644
--- a/glance/tests/unit/async_/flows/test_import.py
+++ b/glance/tests/unit/async_/flows/test_import.py
@@ -178,6 +178,39 @@ class TestImportTask(test_utils.BaseTestCase):
                 self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(tmp_image_path))
                 self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(image_path))
 
+    def test_import_flow_invalid_data_file(self):
+        self.config(engine_mode='serial',
+                    group='taskflow_executor')
+
+        img_factory = mock.MagicMock()
+
+        executor = taskflow_executor.TaskExecutor(
+            self.context,
+            self.task_repo,
+            self.img_repo,
+            img_factory)
+
+        self.task_repo.get.return_value = self.task
+
+        def create_image(*args, **kwargs):
+            kwargs['image_id'] = UUID1
+            return self.img_factory.new_image(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        self.img_repo.get.return_value = self.image
+        img_factory.new_image.side_effect = create_image
+
+        with mock.patch.object(script_utils, 'get_image_data_iter') as dmock:
+            dmock.return_value = io.BytesIO(b"TEST_IMAGE")
+
+            with mock.patch.object(putils, 'trycmd') as tmock:
+                out = json.dumps({'format-specific':
+                                  {'data': {'data-file': 'somefile'}}})
+                tmock.return_value = (out, '')
+                e = self.assertRaises(RuntimeError,
+                                      executor.begin_processing,
+                                      self.task.task_id)
+                self.assertIn('somefile', str(e))
+
     def test_import_flow_revert_import_to_fs(self):
         self.config(engine_mode='serial', group='taskflow_executor')