diff --git a/block/raw-posix.c b/block/raw-posix.c
index 2ee5d69..be9a371 100644
--- a/block/raw-posix.c
+++ b/block/raw-posix.c
@@ -573,9 +573,29 @@ static int raw_create(const char *filename, 
QEMUOptionParameter *options)
     if (fd < 0) {
         result = -errno;
     } else {
+
+        struct stat sb;
+
+        if (-1 == fstat(dest, &sb)) {
+            result = -errno;
+            goto close;
+        }
+
+        /* block devices do not support truncate. If the device is large
+           enough, then it will do */
+
+        if (S_ISBLK(sb.st_mode)) {
+            /* divide to prevent overflow */
+            if (sb.st_size / BDRV_SECTOR_SIZE < total_size)
+                result = -ENOSPC;
+            goto close;
+        }
+
         if (ftruncate(fd, total_size * BDRV_SECTOR_SIZE) != 0) {
             result = -errno;
         }
+
+    close:
         if (close(fd) != 0) {
             result = -errno;