diff --git a/block/qcow2.c b/block/qcow2.c
index c9e266e22e..27203f8f07 100644
--- a/block/qcow2.c
+++ b/block/qcow2.c
@@ -455,6 +455,7 @@ static int qcow2_open(BlockDriverState *bs, QDict *options, int flags)
         ret = -ENOTSUP;
         goto fail;
     }
+    s->refcount_order = header.refcount_order;
 
     if (header.cluster_bits < MIN_CLUSTER_BITS ||
         header.cluster_bits > MAX_CLUSTER_BITS) {
@@ -1143,7 +1144,7 @@ int qcow2_update_header(BlockDriverState *bs)
         .incompatible_features  = cpu_to_be64(s->incompatible_features),
         .compatible_features    = cpu_to_be64(s->compatible_features),
         .autoclear_features     = cpu_to_be64(s->autoclear_features),
-        .refcount_order         = cpu_to_be32(3 + REFCOUNT_SHIFT),
+        .refcount_order         = cpu_to_be32(s->refcount_order),
         .header_length          = cpu_to_be32(header_length),
     };
 
diff --git a/block/qcow2.h b/block/qcow2.h
index 48080fdc03..bea6ddb43a 100644
--- a/block/qcow2.h
+++ b/block/qcow2.h
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ typedef struct BDRVQcowState {
     int flags;
     int qcow_version;
     bool use_lazy_refcounts;
+    int refcount_order;
 
     bool discard_passthrough[QCOW2_DISCARD_MAX];