diff --git a/unit_tests/utilities/test_zaza_utilities_openstack.py b/unit_tests/utilities/test_zaza_utilities_openstack.py
index b7f2eeb..0434a2b 100644
--- a/unit_tests/utilities/test_zaza_utilities_openstack.py
+++ b/unit_tests/utilities/test_zaza_utilities_openstack.py
@@ -550,7 +550,8 @@ class TestOpenStackUtils(ut_utils.BaseTestCase):
             backend=None,
             disk_format='qcow2',
             visibility='public',
-            container_format='bare')
+            container_format='bare',
+            force_import=False)
 
     def test_create_image_pass_directory(self):
         glance_mock = mock.MagicMock()
@@ -574,7 +575,8 @@ class TestOpenStackUtils(ut_utils.BaseTestCase):
             backend=None,
             disk_format='qcow2',
             visibility='public',
-            container_format='bare')
+            container_format='bare',
+            force_import=False)
         self.gettempdir.assert_not_called()
 
     def test_create_ssh_key(self):
diff --git a/zaza/openstack/charm_tests/glance/tests.py b/zaza/openstack/charm_tests/glance/tests.py
index 5d45338..d81e440 100644
--- a/zaza/openstack/charm_tests/glance/tests.py
+++ b/zaza/openstack/charm_tests/glance/tests.py
@@ -67,6 +67,32 @@ class GlanceTest(test_utils.OpenStackBaseTest):
             {'image_format': {'disk_formats': ['qcow2']}},
             ['glance-api'])
 
+    def test_412_image_conversion(self):
+        """Check image-conversion config.
+
+        When image-conversion config is enabled glance will convert images
+        to raw format, this is only performed for interoperable image import
+        docs.openstack.org/glance/train/admin/interoperable-image-import.html
+        image conversion is done at server-side for better image handling
+        """
+        current_release = openstack_utils.get_os_release()
+        bionic_stein = openstack_utils.get_os_release('bionic_stein')
+        if current_release < bionic_stein:
+            self.skipTest('image-conversion config is supported since '
+                          'bionic_stein or newer versions')
+
+        with self.config_change({'image-conversion': 'false'},
+                                {'image-conversion': 'true'}):
+            image_url = openstack_utils.find_cirros_image(arch='x86_64')
+            image = openstack_utils.create_image(
+                self.glance_client,
+                image_url,
+                'cirros-test-import',
+                force_import=True)
+
+            disk_format = self.glance_client.images.get(image.id).disk_format
+            self.assertEqual('raw', disk_format)
+
     def test_900_restart_on_config_change(self):
         """Checking restart happens on config change."""
         # Config file affected by juju set config change
diff --git a/zaza/openstack/utilities/openstack.py b/zaza/openstack/utilities/openstack.py
index 237e02d..3082068 100644
--- a/zaza/openstack/utilities/openstack.py
+++ b/zaza/openstack/utilities/openstack.py
@@ -2407,7 +2407,7 @@ def delete_volume_backup(cinder, vol_backup_id):
 
 def upload_image_to_glance(glance, local_path, image_name, disk_format='qcow2',
                            visibility='public', container_format='bare',
-                           backend=None):
+                           backend=None, force_import=False):
     """Upload the given image to glance and apply the given label.
 
     :param glance: Authenticated glanceclient
@@ -2424,6 +2424,9 @@ def upload_image_to_glance(glance, local_path, image_name, disk_format='qcow2',
                              format that also contains metadata about the
                              actual virtual machine.
     :type container_format: str
+    :param force_import: Force the use of glance image import
+        instead of direct upload
+    :type force_import: boolean
     :returns: glance image pointer
     :rtype: glanceclient.common.utils.RequestIdProxy
     """
@@ -2433,7 +2436,15 @@ def upload_image_to_glance(glance, local_path, image_name, disk_format='qcow2',
         disk_format=disk_format,
         visibility=visibility,
         container_format=container_format)
-    glance.images.upload(image.id, open(local_path, 'rb'), backend=backend)
+
+    if force_import:
+        logging.info('Forcing image import')
+        glance.images.stage(image.id, open(local_path, 'rb'))
+        glance.images.image_import(
+            image.id, method='glance-direct', backend=backend)
+    else:
+        glance.images.upload(
+            image.id, open(local_path, 'rb'), backend=backend)
 
     resource_reaches_status(
         glance.images,
@@ -2446,7 +2457,8 @@ def upload_image_to_glance(glance, local_path, image_name, disk_format='qcow2',
 
 def create_image(glance, image_url, image_name, image_cache_dir=None, tags=[],
                  properties=None, backend=None, disk_format='qcow2',
-                 visibility='public', container_format='bare'):
+                 visibility='public', container_format='bare',
+                 force_import=False):
     """Download the image and upload it to glance.
 
     Download an image from image_url and upload it to glance labelling
@@ -2465,6 +2477,9 @@ def create_image(glance, image_url, image_name, image_cache_dir=None, tags=[],
     :type tags: list of str
     :param properties: Properties and values to add to image
     :type properties: dict
+    :param force_import: Force the use of glance image import
+        instead of direct upload
+    :type force_import: boolean
     :returns: glance image pointer
     :rtype: glanceclient.common.utils.RequestIdProxy
     """
@@ -2487,7 +2502,7 @@ def create_image(glance, image_url, image_name, image_cache_dir=None, tags=[],
     image = upload_image_to_glance(
         glance, local_path, image_name, backend=backend,
         disk_format=disk_format, visibility=visibility,
-        container_format=container_format)
+        container_format=container_format, force_import=force_import)
     for tag in tags:
         result = glance.image_tags.update(image.id, tag)
         logging.debug(