diff --git a/server/src/com/cloud/storage/VolumeApiServiceImpl.java b/server/src/com/cloud/storage/VolumeApiServiceImpl.java
index 9b2e33732f0..5f237b04f7e 100644
--- a/server/src/com/cloud/storage/VolumeApiServiceImpl.java
+++ b/server/src/com/cloud/storage/VolumeApiServiceImpl.java
@@ -1954,6 +1954,10 @@ public class VolumeApiServiceImpl extends ManagerBase implements VolumeApiServic
             throw new InvalidParameterValueException("VolumeId: " + volumeId + " is not in " + Volume.State.Ready + " state but " + volume.getState() + ". Cannot take snapshot.");
         }
 
+        if (ImageFormat.DIR.equals(volume.getFormat())){
+            throw new InvalidParameterValueException("Snapshot not supported for volume:" + volumeId);
+        }
+
         if (volume.getTemplateId() != null) {
             VMTemplateVO template = _templateDao.findById(volume.getTemplateId());
             if (template != null && template.getTemplateType() == Storage.TemplateType.SYSTEM) {