diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyveload/bhyveload.c b/usr.sbin/bhyveload/bhyveload.c
index 5250e212093..2b1bfec9a62 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyveload/bhyveload.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyveload/bhyveload.c
@@ -722,6 +722,8 @@ disk_open(char *path)
 		return (ERANGE);
 
 	fd = open(path, O_RDWR);
+	if (fd < 0)
+		fd = open(path, O_RDONLY);
 	if (fd < 0)
 		return (errno);