diff --git a/ironic_python_agent/shell/write_image.sh b/ironic_python_agent/shell/write_image.sh
index bcd6bfd37..61e9d0b91 100755
--- a/ironic_python_agent/shell/write_image.sh
+++ b/ironic_python_agent/shell/write_image.sh
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ log "Imaging $IMAGEFILE to $DEVICE"
 
 # limit the memory usage for qemu-img to 2 GiB
 ulimit -v 2097152
-qemu-img convert -t directsync -O host_device $IMAGEFILE $DEVICE
+qemu-img convert -t directsync -O host_device -W $IMAGEFILE $DEVICE
 sync
 
 log "${DEVICE} imaged successfully!"
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/qemu-img-ooo-write-721b8a0057ab7b8a.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/qemu-img-ooo-write-721b8a0057ab7b8a.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2de30f57b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/qemu-img-ooo-write-721b8a0057ab7b8a.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Permits out-of-order writes when converting a whole disk images to improve
+    performance.