diff --git a/etc/nova/rootwrap.d/compute.filters b/etc/nova/rootwrap.d/compute.filters
index 11215a5ba106..b79851b40066 100644
--- a/etc/nova/rootwrap.d/compute.filters
+++ b/etc/nova/rootwrap.d/compute.filters
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ mkdir: CommandFilter, mkdir, root
 # nova/virt/libvirt/connection.py: 'chown', os.getuid( console_log
 # nova/virt/libvirt/connection.py: 'chown', os.getuid( console_log
 # nova/virt/libvirt/connection.py: 'chown', 'root', basepath('disk')
-# nova/utils.py: 'chown', owner_uid, path
 chown: CommandFilter, chown, root
 
 # nova/virt/disk/vfs/localfs.py: 'chmod'
diff --git a/nova/tests/virt/libvirt/test_imagebackend.py b/nova/tests/virt/libvirt/test_imagebackend.py
index d4add89670cd..9d7cf49a3be9 100644
--- a/nova/tests/virt/libvirt/test_imagebackend.py
+++ b/nova/tests/virt/libvirt/test_imagebackend.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ from nova.openstack.common import uuidutils
 from nova import test
 from nova.tests import fake_processutils
 from nova.tests.virt.libvirt import fake_libvirt_utils
-from nova import utils
 from nova.virt.libvirt import imagebackend
 
 CONF = cfg.CONF
@@ -67,10 +66,6 @@ class _ImageTestCase(object):
             'nova.virt.libvirt.imagebackend.libvirt_utils',
             fake_libvirt_utils))
 
-        def fake_chown(path, owner_uid=None):
-            return None
-        self.stubs.Set(utils, 'chown', fake_chown)
-
     def tearDown(self):
         super(_ImageTestCase, self).tearDown()
         shutil.rmtree(self.INSTANCES_PATH)
@@ -127,10 +122,6 @@ class RawTestCase(_ImageTestCase, test.NoDBTestCase):
         super(RawTestCase, self).setUp()
         self.stubs.Set(imagebackend.Raw, 'correct_format', lambda _: None)
 
-        def fake_chown(path, owner_uid=None):
-            return None
-        self.stubs.Set(utils, 'chown', fake_chown)
-
     def prepare_mocks(self):
         fn = self.mox.CreateMockAnything()
         self.mox.StubOutWithMock(imagebackend.utils.synchronized,
@@ -243,10 +234,6 @@ class RawTestCase(_ImageTestCase, test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.mox.StubOutWithMock(os.path, 'exists')
         self.mox.StubOutWithMock(imagebackend.images, 'qemu_img_info')
 
-        def fake_chown(path, owner_uid=None):
-            return None
-        self.stubs.Set(utils, 'chown', fake_chown)
-
         os.path.exists(self.PATH).AndReturn(True)
         os.path.exists(self.DISK_INFO_PATH).AndReturn(False)
         info = self.mox.CreateMockAnything()
@@ -275,10 +262,6 @@ class Qcow2TestCase(_ImageTestCase, test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.QCOW2_BASE = (self.TEMPLATE_PATH +
                            '_%d' % (self.SIZE / units.Gi))
 
-        def fake_chown(path, owner_uid=None):
-            return None
-        self.stubs.Set(utils, 'chown', fake_chown)
-
     def prepare_mocks(self):
         fn = self.mox.CreateMockAnything()
         self.mox.StubOutWithMock(imagebackend.utils.synchronized,
@@ -874,10 +857,6 @@ class BackendTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         super(BackendTestCase, self).setUp()
 
-        def fake_chown(path, owner_uid=None):
-            return None
-        self.stubs.Set(utils, 'chown', fake_chown)
-
     def get_image(self, use_cow, image_type):
         return imagebackend.Backend(use_cow).image(self.INSTANCE,
                                                    self.NAME,
diff --git a/nova/utils.py b/nova/utils.py
index 0c3ee94f317e..6630c689baaf 100644
--- a/nova/utils.py
+++ b/nova/utils.py
@@ -761,20 +761,6 @@ def temporary_chown(path, owner_uid=None):
             execute('chown', orig_uid, path, run_as_root=True)
 
 
-def chown(path, owner_uid=None):
-    """chown a path.
-
-    :param owner_uid: UID of owner (defaults to current user)
-    """
-    if owner_uid is None:
-        owner_uid = os.getuid()
-
-    orig_uid = os.stat(path).st_uid
-
-    if orig_uid != owner_uid:
-        execute('chown', owner_uid, path, run_as_root=True)
-
-
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 def tempdir(**kwargs):
     argdict = kwargs.copy()
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/imagebackend.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/imagebackend.py
index 65114964d2c3..4a6379928776 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/imagebackend.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/imagebackend.py
@@ -272,20 +272,21 @@ class Image(object):
                             lock_path=self.lock_path)
         def write_to_disk_info_file():
             # Use os.open to create it without group or world write permission.
-            fd = os.open(self.disk_info_path, os.O_RDWR | os.O_CREAT, 0o644)
-            with os.fdopen(fd, "r+") as disk_info_file:
+            fd = os.open(self.disk_info_path, os.O_RDONLY | os.O_CREAT, 0o644)
+            with os.fdopen(fd, "r") as disk_info_file:
                 line = disk_info_file.read().rstrip()
                 dct = _dict_from_line(line)
-                if self.path in dct:
-                    msg = _("Attempted overwrite of an existing value.")
-                    raise exception.InvalidDiskInfo(reason=msg)
-                dct.update({self.path: driver_format})
-                disk_info_file.seek(0)
-                disk_info_file.truncate()
-                disk_info_file.write('%s\n' % jsonutils.dumps(dct))
-            # Ensure the file is always owned by the nova user so qemu can't
-            # write it.
-            utils.chown(self.disk_info_path, owner_uid=os.getuid())
+
+            if self.path in dct:
+                msg = _("Attempted overwrite of an existing value.")
+                raise exception.InvalidDiskInfo(reason=msg)
+            dct.update({self.path: driver_format})
+
+            tmp_path = self.disk_info_path + ".tmp"
+            fd = os.open(tmp_path, os.O_WRONLY | os.O_CREAT, 0o644)
+            with os.fdopen(fd, "w") as tmp_file:
+                tmp_file.write('%s\n' % jsonutils.dumps(dct))
+            os.rename(tmp_path, self.disk_info_path)
 
         try:
             if (self.disk_info_path is not None and