diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-sparse b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-sparse
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..4251dea7531
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-sparse
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# group: rw auto quick
+#
+# Test blockdev-mirror with raw sparse destination
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2025 Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+#
+
+seq="$(basename $0)"
+echo "QA output created by $seq"
+
+status=1 # failure is the default!
+
+_cleanup()
+{
+    _cleanup_test_img
+    _cleanup_qemu
+}
+trap "_cleanup; exit \$status" 0 1 2 3 15
+
+# get standard environment, filters and checks
+cd ..
+. ./common.rc
+. ./common.filter
+. ./common.qemu
+
+_supported_fmt qcow2 raw  # Format of the source. dst is always raw file
+_supported_proto file
+_supported_os Linux
+
+echo
+echo "=== Initial image setup ==="
+echo
+
+TEST_IMG="$TEST_IMG.base" _make_test_img 20M
+$QEMU_IO -c 'w 8M 2M' -f $IMGFMT "$TEST_IMG.base" | _filter_qemu_io
+
+_launch_qemu -machine q35 \
+    -blockdev '{"driver":"file", "cache":{"direct":true, "no-flush":false},
+                "filename":"'"$TEST_IMG.base"'", "node-name":"src-file"}' \
+    -blockdev '{"driver":"'$IMGFMT'", "node-name":"src", "file":"src-file"}'
+h1=$QEMU_HANDLE
+_send_qemu_cmd $h1 '{"execute": "qmp_capabilities"}' 'return'
+
+# Each of these combinations should result in a sparse destination;
+# the destination should only be fully allocated if pre-allocated
+for creation in external blockdev-create; do
+for discard in ignore unmap; do
+
+echo
+echo "=== Destination with $creation creation and discard=$discard ==="
+echo
+
+rm -f $TEST_IMG
+if test $creation = external; then
+    truncate --size=20M $TEST_IMG
+else
+    _send_qemu_cmd $h1 '{"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments":
+          {"options": {"driver":"file", "filename":"'$TEST_IMG'",
+          "size":'$((20*1024*1024))'}, "job-id":"job1"}}' 'concluded'
+    _send_qemu_cmd $h1 '{"execute": "job-dismiss", "arguments":
+          {"id": "job1"}}' 'return'
+fi
+_send_qemu_cmd $h1 '{"execute": "blockdev-add", "arguments":
+                     {"node-name": "dst", "driver":"file",
+                      "filename":"'$TEST_IMG'", "aio":"threads",
+                      "auto-read-only":true, "discard":"'$discard'"}}' 'return'
+_send_qemu_cmd $h1 '{"execute":"blockdev-mirror", "arguments":
+                     {"sync":"full", "device":"src", "target":"dst",
+                      "job-id":"job2"}}' 'return'
+_timed_wait_for $h1 '"ready"'
+_send_qemu_cmd $h1 '{"execute": "job-complete", "arguments":
+               {"id":"job2"}}' 'return'
+_send_qemu_cmd $h1 '{"execute": "blockdev-del", "arguments":
+                {"node-name": "dst"}}' 'return'
+$QEMU_IMG compare -f $IMGFMT -F raw $TEST_IMG.base $TEST_IMG
+$QEMU_IMG info -f raw $TEST_IMG | grep '^disk size:'
+
+done
+done
+
+_send_qemu_cmd $h1 '{"execute":"quit"}' ''
+
+# success, all done
+echo '*** done'
+rm -f $seq.full
+status=0
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-sparse.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-sparse.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..16eb041841f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/tests/mirror-sparse.out
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+QA output created by mirror-sparse
+
+=== Initial image setup ===
+
+Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT.base', fmt=IMGFMT size=20971520
+wrote 2097152/2097152 bytes at offset 8388608
+2 MiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
+{"execute": "qmp_capabilities"}
+{"return": {}}
+
+=== Destination with external creation and discard=ignore ===
+
+{"execute": "blockdev-add", "arguments":
+                     {"node-name": "dst", "driver":"file",
+                      "filename":"TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT", "aio":"threads",
+                      "auto-read-only":true, "discard":"ignore"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute":"blockdev-mirror", "arguments":
+                     {"sync":"full", "device":"src", "target":"dst",
+                      "job-id":"job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "created", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "running", "id": "job2"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "ready", "id": "job2"}}
+{"execute": "job-complete", "arguments":
+               {"id":"job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "BLOCK_JOB_READY", "data": {"device": "job2", "len": 20971520, "offset": 20971520, "speed": 0, "type": "mirror"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute": "blockdev-del", "arguments":
+                {"node-name": "dst"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "waiting", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "pending", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "BLOCK_JOB_COMPLETED", "data": {"device": "job2", "len": 20971520, "offset": 20971520, "speed": 0, "type": "mirror"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "concluded", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "null", "id": "job2"}}
+{"return": {}}
+Images are identical.
+disk size: 2.06 MiB
+
+=== Destination with external creation and discard=unmap ===
+
+{"execute": "blockdev-add", "arguments":
+                     {"node-name": "dst", "driver":"file",
+                      "filename":"TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT", "aio":"threads",
+                      "auto-read-only":true, "discard":"unmap"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute":"blockdev-mirror", "arguments":
+                     {"sync":"full", "device":"src", "target":"dst",
+                      "job-id":"job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "created", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "running", "id": "job2"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "ready", "id": "job2"}}
+{"execute": "job-complete", "arguments":
+               {"id":"job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "BLOCK_JOB_READY", "data": {"device": "job2", "len": 20971520, "offset": 20971520, "speed": 0, "type": "mirror"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute": "blockdev-del", "arguments":
+                {"node-name": "dst"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "waiting", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "pending", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "BLOCK_JOB_COMPLETED", "data": {"device": "job2", "len": 20971520, "offset": 20971520, "speed": 0, "type": "mirror"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "concluded", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "null", "id": "job2"}}
+{"return": {}}
+Images are identical.
+disk size: 2.06 MiB
+
+=== Destination with blockdev-create creation and discard=ignore ===
+
+{"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments":
+          {"options": {"driver":"file", "filename":"TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT",
+          "size":20971520}, "job-id":"job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "created", "id": "job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "running", "id": "job1"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "waiting", "id": "job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "pending", "id": "job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "concluded", "id": "job1"}}
+{"execute": "job-dismiss", "arguments":
+          {"id": "job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "null", "id": "job1"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute": "blockdev-add", "arguments":
+                     {"node-name": "dst", "driver":"file",
+                      "filename":"TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT", "aio":"threads",
+                      "auto-read-only":true, "discard":"ignore"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute":"blockdev-mirror", "arguments":
+                     {"sync":"full", "device":"src", "target":"dst",
+                      "job-id":"job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "created", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "running", "id": "job2"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "ready", "id": "job2"}}
+{"execute": "job-complete", "arguments":
+               {"id":"job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "BLOCK_JOB_READY", "data": {"device": "job2", "len": 20971520, "offset": 20971520, "speed": 0, "type": "mirror"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute": "blockdev-del", "arguments":
+                {"node-name": "dst"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "waiting", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "pending", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "BLOCK_JOB_COMPLETED", "data": {"device": "job2", "len": 20971520, "offset": 20971520, "speed": 0, "type": "mirror"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "concluded", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "null", "id": "job2"}}
+{"return": {}}
+Images are identical.
+disk size: 2.06 MiB
+
+=== Destination with blockdev-create creation and discard=unmap ===
+
+{"execute": "blockdev-create", "arguments":
+          {"options": {"driver":"file", "filename":"TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT",
+          "size":20971520}, "job-id":"job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "created", "id": "job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "running", "id": "job1"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "waiting", "id": "job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "pending", "id": "job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "concluded", "id": "job1"}}
+{"execute": "job-dismiss", "arguments":
+          {"id": "job1"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "null", "id": "job1"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute": "blockdev-add", "arguments":
+                     {"node-name": "dst", "driver":"file",
+                      "filename":"TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT", "aio":"threads",
+                      "auto-read-only":true, "discard":"unmap"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute":"blockdev-mirror", "arguments":
+                     {"sync":"full", "device":"src", "target":"dst",
+                      "job-id":"job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "created", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "running", "id": "job2"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "ready", "id": "job2"}}
+{"execute": "job-complete", "arguments":
+               {"id":"job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "BLOCK_JOB_READY", "data": {"device": "job2", "len": 20971520, "offset": 20971520, "speed": 0, "type": "mirror"}}
+{"return": {}}
+{"execute": "blockdev-del", "arguments":
+                {"node-name": "dst"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "waiting", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "pending", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "BLOCK_JOB_COMPLETED", "data": {"device": "job2", "len": 20971520, "offset": 20971520, "speed": 0, "type": "mirror"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "concluded", "id": "job2"}}
+{"timestamp": {"seconds":  TIMESTAMP, "microseconds":  TIMESTAMP}, "event": "JOB_STATUS_CHANGE", "data": {"status": "null", "id": "job2"}}
+{"return": {}}
+Images are identical.
+disk size: 2.06 MiB
+{"execute":"quit"}
+*** done
