diff --git a/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/nova-libvirt.json.j2 b/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/nova-libvirt.json.j2
index 79a70172b5..18fc69f85d 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/nova-libvirt.json.j2
+++ b/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/nova-libvirt.json.j2
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
         {
             "source": "{{ container_config_directory }}/ceph.conf",
             "dest": "/etc/ceph/ceph.conf",
-            "owner": "root",
+            "owner": "nova",
             "perm": "0600"
         }{% endif %}
     ]
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-1861513-8e09a6fb42dfc99c.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1861513-8e09a6fb42dfc99c.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f46e4eb33a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1861513-8e09a6fb42dfc99c.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fix qemu loading of ceph.conf (permission error).
+    `LP#1861513 <https://launchpad.net/bugs/1861513>`