diff --git a/nova/tests/fakeguestfs.py b/nova/tests/fakeguestfs.py
index d940478dcd62..cf35a6f01ad7 100644
--- a/nova/tests/fakeguestfs.py
+++ b/nova/tests/fakeguestfs.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 class GuestFS(object):
 
-    def __init__(self):
+    def __init__(self, close_on_exit=True):
         self.drives = []
         self.running = False
         self.closed = False
diff --git a/nova/virt/disk/vfs/guestfs.py b/nova/virt/disk/vfs/guestfs.py
index 99d620cd99ab..722f2fc3a020 100644
--- a/nova/virt/disk/vfs/guestfs.py
+++ b/nova/virt/disk/vfs/guestfs.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ class VFSGuestFS(vfs.VFS):
     def setup(self):
         LOG.debug(_("Setting up appliance for %(imgfile)s %(imgfmt)s") %
                   {'imgfile': self.imgfile, 'imgfmt': self.imgfmt})
-        self.handle = tpool.Proxy(guestfs.GuestFS())
+        self.handle = tpool.Proxy(guestfs.GuestFS(close_on_exit=False))
 
         try:
             self.handle.add_drive_opts(self.imgfile, format=self.imgfmt)