diff --git a/block/backup.c b/block/backup.c
index ae1b99a..ea38733 100644
--- a/block/backup.c
+++ b/block/backup.c
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ static const BlockJobDriver backup_job_driver = {
     .drain                  = backup_drain,
 };
 
-void backup_start(const char *job_id, BlockDriverState *bs,
+BlockJob *backup_job_create(const char *job_id, BlockDriverState *bs,
                   BlockDriverState *target, int64_t speed,
                   MirrorSyncMode sync_mode, BdrvDirtyBitmap *sync_bitmap,
                   bool compress,
@@ -563,52 +563,52 @@ void backup_start(const char *job_id, BlockDriverState *bs,
 
     if (bs == target) {
         error_setg(errp, "Source and target cannot be the same");
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     if (!bdrv_is_inserted(bs)) {
         error_setg(errp, "Device is not inserted: %s",
                    bdrv_get_device_name(bs));
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     if (!bdrv_is_inserted(target)) {
         error_setg(errp, "Device is not inserted: %s",
                    bdrv_get_device_name(target));
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     if (compress && target->drv->bdrv_co_pwritev_compressed == NULL) {
         error_setg(errp, "Compression is not supported for this drive %s",
                    bdrv_get_device_name(target));
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     if (bdrv_op_is_blocked(bs, BLOCK_OP_TYPE_BACKUP_SOURCE, errp)) {
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     if (bdrv_op_is_blocked(target, BLOCK_OP_TYPE_BACKUP_TARGET, errp)) {
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     if (sync_mode == MIRROR_SYNC_MODE_INCREMENTAL) {
         if (!sync_bitmap) {
             error_setg(errp, "must provide a valid bitmap name for "
                              "\"incremental\" sync mode");
-            return;
+            return NULL;
         }
 
         /* Create a new bitmap, and freeze/disable this one. */
         if (bdrv_dirty_bitmap_create_successor(bs, sync_bitmap, errp) < 0) {
-            return;
+            return NULL;
         }
     } else if (sync_bitmap) {
         error_setg(errp,
                    "a sync_bitmap was provided to backup_run, "
                    "but received an incompatible sync_mode (%s)",
                    MirrorSyncMode_lookup[sync_mode]);
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     len = bdrv_getlength(bs);
@@ -655,8 +655,8 @@ void backup_start(const char *job_id, BlockDriverState *bs,
     block_job_add_bdrv(&job->common, target);
     job->common.len = len;
     block_job_txn_add_job(txn, &job->common);
-    block_job_start(&job->common);
-    return;
+
+    return &job->common;
 
  error:
     if (sync_bitmap) {
@@ -666,4 +666,6 @@ void backup_start(const char *job_id, BlockDriverState *bs,
         backup_clean(&job->common);
         block_job_unref(&job->common);
     }
+
+    return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/block/replication.c b/block/replication.c
index d5e2b0f..729dd12 100644
--- a/block/replication.c
+++ b/block/replication.c
@@ -421,6 +421,7 @@ static void replication_start(ReplicationState *rs, ReplicationMode mode,
     int64_t active_length, hidden_length, disk_length;
     AioContext *aio_context;
     Error *local_err = NULL;
+    BlockJob *job;
 
     aio_context = bdrv_get_aio_context(bs);
     aio_context_acquire(aio_context);
@@ -508,17 +509,18 @@ static void replication_start(ReplicationState *rs, ReplicationMode mode,
         bdrv_op_block_all(top_bs, s->blocker);
         bdrv_op_unblock(top_bs, BLOCK_OP_TYPE_DATAPLANE, s->blocker);
 
-        backup_start(NULL, s->secondary_disk->bs, s->hidden_disk->bs, 0,
-                     MIRROR_SYNC_MODE_NONE, NULL, false,
-                     BLOCKDEV_ON_ERROR_REPORT, BLOCKDEV_ON_ERROR_REPORT,
-                     BLOCK_JOB_INTERNAL, backup_job_completed, bs,
-                     NULL, &local_err);
+        job = backup_job_create(NULL, s->secondary_disk->bs, s->hidden_disk->bs,
+                                0, MIRROR_SYNC_MODE_NONE, NULL, false,
+                                BLOCKDEV_ON_ERROR_REPORT,
+                                BLOCKDEV_ON_ERROR_REPORT, BLOCK_JOB_INTERNAL,
+                                backup_job_completed, bs, NULL, &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
             error_propagate(errp, local_err);
             backup_job_cleanup(bs);
             aio_context_release(aio_context);
             return;
         }
+        block_job_start(job);
         break;
     default:
         aio_context_release(aio_context);
diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index 102ca9f..245e1e1 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -1811,7 +1811,7 @@ typedef struct DriveBackupState {
     BlockJob *job;
 } DriveBackupState;
 
-static void do_drive_backup(DriveBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn,
+static BlockJob *do_drive_backup(DriveBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn,
                             Error **errp);
 
 static void drive_backup_prepare(BlkActionState *common, Error **errp)
@@ -1835,23 +1835,26 @@ static void drive_backup_prepare(BlkActionState *common, Error **errp)
     bdrv_drained_begin(bs);
     state->bs = bs;
 
-    do_drive_backup(backup, common->block_job_txn, &local_err);
+    state->job = do_drive_backup(backup, common->block_job_txn, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
         error_propagate(errp, local_err);
         return;
     }
+}
 
-    state->job = state->bs->job;
+static void drive_backup_commit(BlkActionState *common)
+{
+    DriveBackupState *state = DO_UPCAST(DriveBackupState, common, common);
+    assert(state->job);
+    block_job_start(state->job);
 }
 
 static void drive_backup_abort(BlkActionState *common)
 {
     DriveBackupState *state = DO_UPCAST(DriveBackupState, common, common);
-    BlockDriverState *bs = state->bs;
 
-    /* Only cancel if it's the job we started */
-    if (bs && bs->job && bs->job == state->job) {
-        block_job_cancel_sync(bs->job);
+    if (state->job) {
+        block_job_cancel_sync(state->job);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1872,8 +1875,8 @@ typedef struct BlockdevBackupState {
     AioContext *aio_context;
 } BlockdevBackupState;
 
-static void do_blockdev_backup(BlockdevBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn,
-                               Error **errp);
+static BlockJob *do_blockdev_backup(BlockdevBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn,
+                                    Error **errp);
 
 static void blockdev_backup_prepare(BlkActionState *common, Error **errp)
 {
@@ -1906,23 +1909,26 @@ static void blockdev_backup_prepare(BlkActionState *common, Error **errp)
     state->bs = bs;
     bdrv_drained_begin(state->bs);
 
-    do_blockdev_backup(backup, common->block_job_txn, &local_err);
+    state->job = do_blockdev_backup(backup, common->block_job_txn, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
         error_propagate(errp, local_err);
         return;
     }
+}
 
-    state->job = state->bs->job;
+static void blockdev_backup_commit(BlkActionState *common)
+{
+    BlockdevBackupState *state = DO_UPCAST(BlockdevBackupState, common, common);
+    assert(state->job);
+    block_job_start(state->job);
 }
 
 static void blockdev_backup_abort(BlkActionState *common)
 {
     BlockdevBackupState *state = DO_UPCAST(BlockdevBackupState, common, common);
-    BlockDriverState *bs = state->bs;
 
-    /* Only cancel if it's the job we started */
-    if (bs && bs->job && bs->job == state->job) {
-        block_job_cancel_sync(bs->job);
+    if (state->job) {
+        block_job_cancel_sync(state->job);
     }
 }
 
@@ -2072,12 +2078,14 @@ static const BlkActionOps actions[] = {
     [TRANSACTION_ACTION_KIND_DRIVE_BACKUP] = {
         .instance_size = sizeof(DriveBackupState),
         .prepare = drive_backup_prepare,
+        .commit = drive_backup_commit,
         .abort = drive_backup_abort,
         .clean = drive_backup_clean,
     },
     [TRANSACTION_ACTION_KIND_BLOCKDEV_BACKUP] = {
         .instance_size = sizeof(BlockdevBackupState),
         .prepare = blockdev_backup_prepare,
+        .commit = blockdev_backup_commit,
         .abort = blockdev_backup_abort,
         .clean = blockdev_backup_clean,
     },
@@ -3106,11 +3114,13 @@ out:
     aio_context_release(aio_context);
 }
 
-static void do_drive_backup(DriveBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn, Error **errp)
+static BlockJob *do_drive_backup(DriveBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn,
+                                 Error **errp)
 {
     BlockDriverState *bs;
     BlockDriverState *target_bs;
     BlockDriverState *source = NULL;
+    BlockJob *job = NULL;
     BdrvDirtyBitmap *bmap = NULL;
     AioContext *aio_context;
     QDict *options = NULL;
@@ -3139,7 +3149,7 @@ static void do_drive_backup(DriveBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn, Error **errp)
 
     bs = qmp_get_root_bs(backup->device, errp);
     if (!bs) {
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     aio_context = bdrv_get_aio_context(bs);
@@ -3213,10 +3223,10 @@ static void do_drive_backup(DriveBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn, Error **errp)
         }
     }
 
-    backup_start(backup->job_id, bs, target_bs, backup->speed, backup->sync,
-                 bmap, backup->compress, backup->on_source_error,
-                 backup->on_target_error, BLOCK_JOB_DEFAULT,
-                 NULL, NULL, txn, &local_err);
+    job = backup_job_create(backup->job_id, bs, target_bs, backup->speed,
+                            backup->sync, bmap, backup->compress,
+                            backup->on_source_error, backup->on_target_error,
+                            BLOCK_JOB_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL, txn, &local_err);
     bdrv_unref(target_bs);
     if (local_err != NULL) {
         error_propagate(errp, local_err);
@@ -3225,11 +3235,17 @@ static void do_drive_backup(DriveBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn, Error **errp)
 
 out:
     aio_context_release(aio_context);
+    return job;
 }
 
 void qmp_drive_backup(DriveBackup *arg, Error **errp)
 {
-    return do_drive_backup(arg, NULL, errp);
+
+    BlockJob *job;
+    job = do_drive_backup(arg, NULL, errp);
+    if (job) {
+        block_job_start(job);
+    }
 }
 
 BlockDeviceInfoList *qmp_query_named_block_nodes(Error **errp)
@@ -3237,12 +3253,14 @@ BlockDeviceInfoList *qmp_query_named_block_nodes(Error **errp)
     return bdrv_named_nodes_list(errp);
 }
 
-void do_blockdev_backup(BlockdevBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn, Error **errp)
+BlockJob *do_blockdev_backup(BlockdevBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn,
+                             Error **errp)
 {
     BlockDriverState *bs;
     BlockDriverState *target_bs;
     Error *local_err = NULL;
     AioContext *aio_context;
+    BlockJob *job = NULL;
 
     if (!backup->has_speed) {
         backup->speed = 0;
@@ -3262,7 +3280,7 @@ void do_blockdev_backup(BlockdevBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn, Error **errp)
 
     bs = qmp_get_root_bs(backup->device, errp);
     if (!bs) {
-        return;
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     aio_context = bdrv_get_aio_context(bs);
@@ -3284,20 +3302,25 @@ void do_blockdev_backup(BlockdevBackup *backup, BlockJobTxn *txn, Error **errp)
             goto out;
         }
     }
-    backup_start(backup->job_id, bs, target_bs, backup->speed, backup->sync,
-                 NULL, backup->compress, backup->on_source_error,
-                 backup->on_target_error, BLOCK_JOB_DEFAULT,
-                 NULL, NULL, txn, &local_err);
+    job = backup_job_create(backup->job_id, bs, target_bs, backup->speed,
+                            backup->sync, NULL, backup->compress,
+                            backup->on_source_error, backup->on_target_error,
+                            BLOCK_JOB_DEFAULT, NULL, NULL, txn, &local_err);
     if (local_err != NULL) {
         error_propagate(errp, local_err);
     }
 out:
     aio_context_release(aio_context);
+    return job;
 }
 
 void qmp_blockdev_backup(BlockdevBackup *arg, Error **errp)
 {
-    do_blockdev_backup(arg, NULL, errp);
+    BlockJob *job;
+    job = do_blockdev_backup(arg, NULL, errp);
+    if (job) {
+        block_job_start(job);
+    }
 }
 
 /* Parameter check and block job starting for drive mirroring.
diff --git a/include/block/block_int.h b/include/block/block_int.h
index b02abbd..83a423c 100644
--- a/include/block/block_int.h
+++ b/include/block/block_int.h
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ void mirror_start(const char *job_id, BlockDriverState *bs,
                   bool unmap, Error **errp);
 
 /*
- * backup_start:
+ * backup_job_create:
  * @job_id: The id of the newly-created job, or %NULL to use the
  * device name of @bs.
  * @bs: Block device to operate on.
@@ -764,18 +764,19 @@ void mirror_start(const char *job_id, BlockDriverState *bs,
  * @opaque: Opaque pointer value passed to @cb.
  * @txn: Transaction that this job is part of (may be NULL).
  *
- * Start a backup operation on @bs.  Clusters in @bs are written to @target
+ * Create a backup operation on @bs.  Clusters in @bs are written to @target
  * until the job is cancelled or manually completed.
  */
-void backup_start(const char *job_id, BlockDriverState *bs,
-                  BlockDriverState *target, int64_t speed,
-                  MirrorSyncMode sync_mode, BdrvDirtyBitmap *sync_bitmap,
-                  bool compress,
-                  BlockdevOnError on_source_error,
-                  BlockdevOnError on_target_error,
-                  int creation_flags,
-                  BlockCompletionFunc *cb, void *opaque,
-                  BlockJobTxn *txn, Error **errp);
+BlockJob *backup_job_create(const char *job_id, BlockDriverState *bs,
+                            BlockDriverState *target, int64_t speed,
+                            MirrorSyncMode sync_mode,
+                            BdrvDirtyBitmap *sync_bitmap,
+                            bool compress,
+                            BlockdevOnError on_source_error,
+                            BlockdevOnError on_target_error,
+                            int creation_flags,
+                            BlockCompletionFunc *cb, void *opaque,
+                            BlockJobTxn *txn, Error **errp);
 
 void hmp_drive_add_node(Monitor *mon, const char *optstr);
 
