diff --git a/api/core/v1alpha2/virtual_machine.go b/api/core/v1alpha2/virtual_machine.go
index b7895501f5..010c70a4d3 100644
--- a/api/core/v1alpha2/virtual_machine.go
+++ b/api/core/v1alpha2/virtual_machine.go
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ type VirtualMachineSpec struct {
 	Memory                  MemorySpec `json:"memory"`
 	// List of block devices that can be mounted by disks belonging to the virtual machine.
 	// The order of booting is determined by the order in the list.
-	// +kubebuilder:validation:MinItems:=1
 	// +kubebuilder:validation:MaxItems:=16
 	BlockDeviceRefs []BlockDeviceSpecRef `json:"blockDeviceRefs"`
 	Provisioning    *Provisioning        `json:"provisioning,omitempty"`
diff --git a/crds/virtualmachines.yaml b/crds/virtualmachines.yaml
index ec04bf70bb..007ee9e5b1 100644
--- a/crds/virtualmachines.yaml
+++ b/crds/virtualmachines.yaml
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ spec:
                 - virtualMachineClassName
                 - cpu
                 - memory
-                - blockDeviceRefs
               properties:
                 provisioning:
                   description: |
@@ -929,7 +928,6 @@ spec:
 
                 blockDeviceRefs:
                   type: array
-                  minItems: 1
                   maxItems: 16
                   description: |
                     List of block devices connected to the VM.
diff --git a/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/apiserver/registry/vm/rest/add_volume.go b/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/apiserver/registry/vm/rest/add_volume.go
index ae52b6887a..0e9923cf7f 100644
--- a/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/apiserver/registry/vm/rest/add_volume.go
+++ b/images/virtualization-artifact/pkg/apiserver/registry/vm/rest/add_volume.go
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ func (r AddVolumeREST) genMutateRequestHook(opts *subresources.VirtualMachineAdd
 			Name:        opts.Name,
 			DiskDevice:  dd,
 			Serial:      serial,
+			BootOrder:   ptr.To(uint(1)),
 			ErrorPolicy: ptr.To(virtv1.DiskErrorPolicyReport),
 		},
 	}