diff --git a/nodepool/nodepool.yaml b/nodepool/nodepool.yaml
index dfeaeda17a..8719074d95 100644
--- a/nodepool/nodepool.yaml
+++ b/nodepool/nodepool.yaml
@@ -450,6 +450,7 @@ providers:
     boot-timeout: 120
     max-servers: 79
     rate: 0.1
+    image-type: 'qcow2'
     images:
       - name: ubuntu-precise
         min-ram: 8000