diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 98aca56785..ff1aded4b8 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -3242,6 +3242,24 @@ int bdrv_reopen_prepare(BDRVReopenState *reopen_state, BlockReopenQueue *queue,
             QObject *new = entry->value;
             QObject *old = qdict_get(reopen_state->bs->options, entry->key);
 
+            /* Allow child references (child_name=node_name) as long as they
+             * point to the current child (i.e. everything stays the same). */
+            if (qobject_type(new) == QTYPE_QSTRING) {
+                BdrvChild *child;
+                QLIST_FOREACH(child, &reopen_state->bs->children, next) {
+                    if (!strcmp(child->name, entry->key)) {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if (child) {
+                    const char *str = qobject_get_try_str(new);
+                    if (!strcmp(child->bs->node_name, str)) {
+                        continue; /* Found child with this name, skip option */
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
             /*
              * TODO: When using -drive to specify blockdev options, all values
              * will be strings; however, when using -blockdev, blockdev-add or