diff --git a/nbdkit.spec b/nbdkit.spec
index e17bf77..ce032b8 100644
--- a/nbdkit.spec
+++ b/nbdkit.spec
@@ -518,6 +518,9 @@ find $RPM_BUILD_ROOT -name '*.la' -delete
 # Workaround for broken libvirt (RHBZ#1138604).
 mkdir -p $HOME/.cache/libvirt
 
+# Workaround for broken libvirt (RHBZ#1598440).
+export LIBGUESTFS_BACKEND=direct
+
 # Make sure we can see the debug messages (RHBZ#1230160).
 export LIBGUESTFS_DEBUG=1
 export LIBGUESTFS_TRACE=1