diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/055 b/tests/qemu-iotests/055
index aafcd249f6933de7de91d618d0e9589d355f8d4a..ba4da65c772ade42b0a0bd4fee0992a042aeacc8 100755
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/055
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/055
@@ -458,17 +458,18 @@ class TestDriveCompression(iotests.QMPTestCase):
         except OSError:
             pass
 
-    def do_prepare_drives(self, fmt, args):
+    def do_prepare_drives(self, fmt, args, attach_target):
         self.vm = iotests.VM().add_drive(test_img)
 
         qemu_img('create', '-f', fmt, blockdev_target_img,
                  str(TestDriveCompression.image_len), *args)
-        self.vm.add_drive(blockdev_target_img, format=fmt, interface="none")
+        if attach_target:
+            self.vm.add_drive(blockdev_target_img, format=fmt, interface="none")
 
         self.vm.launch()
 
-    def do_test_compress_complete(self, cmd, format, **args):
-        self.do_prepare_drives(format['type'], format['args'])
+    def do_test_compress_complete(self, cmd, format, attach_target, **args):
+        self.do_prepare_drives(format['type'], format['args'], attach_target)
 
         self.assert_no_active_block_jobs()
 
@@ -484,15 +485,16 @@ class TestDriveCompression(iotests.QMPTestCase):
 
     def test_complete_compress_drive_backup(self):
         for format in TestDriveCompression.fmt_supports_compression:
-            self.do_test_compress_complete('drive-backup', format,
+            self.do_test_compress_complete('drive-backup', format, False,
                                            target=blockdev_target_img, mode='existing')
 
     def test_complete_compress_blockdev_backup(self):
         for format in TestDriveCompression.fmt_supports_compression:
-            self.do_test_compress_complete('blockdev-backup', format, target='drive1')
+            self.do_test_compress_complete('blockdev-backup', format, True,
+                                           target='drive1')
 
-    def do_test_compress_cancel(self, cmd, format, **args):
-        self.do_prepare_drives(format['type'], format['args'])
+    def do_test_compress_cancel(self, cmd, format, attach_target, **args):
+        self.do_prepare_drives(format['type'], format['args'], attach_target)
 
         self.assert_no_active_block_jobs()
 
@@ -506,15 +508,16 @@ class TestDriveCompression(iotests.QMPTestCase):
 
     def test_compress_cancel_drive_backup(self):
         for format in TestDriveCompression.fmt_supports_compression:
-            self.do_test_compress_cancel('drive-backup', format,
+            self.do_test_compress_cancel('drive-backup', format, False,
                                          target=blockdev_target_img, mode='existing')
 
     def test_compress_cancel_blockdev_backup(self):
        for format in TestDriveCompression.fmt_supports_compression:
-            self.do_test_compress_cancel('blockdev-backup', format, target='drive1')
+            self.do_test_compress_cancel('blockdev-backup', format, True,
+                                         target='drive1')
 
-    def do_test_compress_pause(self, cmd, format, **args):
-        self.do_prepare_drives(format['type'], format['args'])
+    def do_test_compress_pause(self, cmd, format, attach_target, **args):
+        self.do_prepare_drives(format['type'], format['args'], attach_target)
 
         self.assert_no_active_block_jobs()
 
@@ -546,12 +549,13 @@ class TestDriveCompression(iotests.QMPTestCase):
 
     def test_compress_pause_drive_backup(self):
         for format in TestDriveCompression.fmt_supports_compression:
-            self.do_test_compress_pause('drive-backup', format,
+            self.do_test_compress_pause('drive-backup', format, False,
                                         target=blockdev_target_img, mode='existing')
 
     def test_compress_pause_blockdev_backup(self):
         for format in TestDriveCompression.fmt_supports_compression:
-            self.do_test_compress_pause('blockdev-backup', format, target='drive1')
+            self.do_test_compress_pause('blockdev-backup', format, True,
+                                        target='drive1')
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     iotests.main(supported_fmts=['raw', 'qcow2'])