diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/039 b/tests/qemu-iotests/039
index a749fcf23b..c5ae806ecb 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/039
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/039
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ trap "_cleanup; exit \$status" 0 1 2 3 15
 _supported_fmt qcow2
 _supported_proto generic
 _supported_os Linux
+_unsupported_qemu_io_options --nocache
 
 size=128M
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/common.rc b/tests/qemu-iotests/common.rc
index 6b805161c8..d534e9466d 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/common.rc
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/common.rc
@@ -297,6 +297,20 @@ _supported_os()
     _notrun "not suitable for this OS: $HOSTOS"
 }
 
+_unsupported_qemu_io_options()
+{
+    for bad_opt
+    do
+        for opt in $QEMU_IO_OPTIONS
+        do
+            if [ "$bad_opt" = "$opt" ]
+            then
+                _notrun "not suitable for qemu-io option: $bad_opt"
+            fi
+        done
+    done
+}
+
 # this test requires that a specified command (executable) exists
 #
 _require_command()