diff --git a/gns3server/compute/qemu/qemu_vm.py b/gns3server/compute/qemu/qemu_vm.py
index af1cf859..62eaef90 100644
--- a/gns3server/compute/qemu/qemu_vm.py
+++ b/gns3server/compute/qemu/qemu_vm.py
@@ -434,10 +434,31 @@ class QemuVM(BaseNode):
         :param cdrom_image: QEMU cdrom image path
         """
 
-        self._cdrom_image = self.manager.get_abs_image_path(cdrom_image, self.project.path)
-        log.info('QEMU VM "{name}" [{id}] has set the QEMU cdrom image path to {cdrom_image}'.format(name=self._name,
-                                                                                                     id=self._id,
-                                                                                                     cdrom_image=self._cdrom_image))
+        if cdrom_image:
+            self._cdrom_image = self.manager.get_abs_image_path(cdrom_image, self.project.path)
+
+            log.info('QEMU VM "{name}" [{id}] has set the QEMU cdrom image path to {cdrom_image}'.format(name=self._name,
+                                                                                                         id=self._id,
+                                                                                                         cdrom_image=self._cdrom_image))
+        else:
+            self._cdrom_image = ""
+
+    async def update_cdrom_image(self):
+        """
+        Update the cdrom image path for the Qemu guest OS
+        """
+
+        if self.is_running():
+            if self._cdrom_image:
+                self._cdrom_option()  # this will check the cdrom image is accessible
+                await self._control_vm("eject -f ide1-cd0")
+                await self._control_vm("change ide1-cd0 {}".format(self._cdrom_image))
+                log.info('QEMU VM "{name}" [{id}] has changed the cdrom image path to {cdrom_image}'.format(name=self._name,
+                                                                                                            id=self._id,
+                                                                                                            cdrom_image=self._cdrom_image))
+            else:
+                await self._control_vm("eject -f ide1-cd0")
+                log.info('QEMU VM "{name}" [{id}] has ejected the cdrom image'.format(name=self._name, id=self._id))
 
     @property
     def bios_image(self):
diff --git a/gns3server/handlers/api/compute/qemu_handler.py b/gns3server/handlers/api/compute/qemu_handler.py
index 30453f6e..0c3779cc 100644
--- a/gns3server/handlers/api/compute/qemu_handler.py
+++ b/gns3server/handlers/api/compute/qemu_handler.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class QEMUHandler:
         description="Update a Qemu VM instance",
         input=QEMU_UPDATE_SCHEMA,
         output=QEMU_OBJECT_SCHEMA)
-    def update(request, response):
+    async def update(request, response):
 
         qemu_manager = Qemu.instance()
         vm = qemu_manager.get_node(request.match_info["node_id"], project_id=request.match_info["project_id"])
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ class QEMUHandler:
         for name, value in request.json.items():
             if hasattr(vm, name) and getattr(vm, name) != value:
                 setattr(vm, name, value)
+                if name == "cdrom_image":
+                    # let the guest know about the new cdrom image
+                    await vm.update_cdrom_image()
 
         vm.updated()
         response.json(vm)