diff --git a/nova/tests/test_libvirt.py b/nova/tests/test_libvirt.py
index d388a1d4..11aadc89 100644
--- a/nova/tests/test_libvirt.py
+++ b/nova/tests/test_libvirt.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #    under the License.
 
 import copy
+import errno
 import eventlet
 import mox
 import os
@@ -800,6 +801,19 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.TestCase):
                                  (check(tree), expected_result, i))
 
     def _check_xml_and_disk_driver(self, image_meta):
+        os_open = os.open
+        directio_supported = True
+
+        def os_open_stub(path, flags, *args, **kwargs):
+            if flags & os.O_DIRECT:
+                if not directio_supported:
+                    raise OSError(errno.EINVAL,
+                                  '%s: %s' % (os.strerror(errno.EINVAL), path))
+                flags &= ~os.O_DIRECT
+            return os_open(path, flags, *args, **kwargs)
+
+        self.stubs.Set(os, 'open', os_open_stub)
+
         user_context = context.RequestContext(self.user_id, self.project_id)
         instance_ref = db.instance_create(user_context, self.test_instance)
         network_info = _fake_network_info(self.stubs, 1)
@@ -812,6 +826,18 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.TestCase):
         for disk in disks:
             self.assertEqual(disk.get("cache"), "none")
 
+        directio_supported = False
+
+        # The O_DIRECT availability is cached on first use in
+        # LibvirtConnection, hence we re-create it here
+        xml = connection.LibvirtConnection(True).to_xml(instance_ref,
+                                                        network_info,
+                                                        image_meta)
+        tree = ElementTree.fromstring(xml)
+        disks = tree.findall('./devices/disk/driver')
+        for disk in disks:
+            self.assertEqual(disk.get("cache"), "writethrough")
+
     def _check_xml_and_disk_bus(self, image_meta, device_type, bus):
         user_context = context.RequestContext(self.user_id, self.project_id)
         instance_ref = db.instance_create(user_context, self.test_instance)
diff --git a/nova/tests/test_virt_drivers.py b/nova/tests/test_virt_drivers.py
index 8018008a..59292659 100644
--- a/nova/tests/test_virt_drivers.py
+++ b/nova/tests/test_virt_drivers.py
@@ -451,6 +451,11 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(_VirtDriverTestCase):
         nova.virt.libvirt.connection.libvirt_utils = fake_libvirt_utils
         nova.virt.libvirt.firewall.libvirt = fakelibvirt
 
+        # So that the _supports_direct_io does the test based
+        # on the current working directory, instead of the
+        # default instances_path which doesn't exist
+        FLAGS.instances_path = ''
+
         # Point _VirtDriverTestCase at the right module
         self.driver_module = nova.virt.libvirt.connection
         super(LibvirtConnTestCase, self).setUp()