diff --git a/plugins/mtd/README.md b/plugins/mtd/README.md
index 8a55617b8..6eefb8849 100644
--- a/plugins/mtd/README.md
+++ b/plugins/mtd/README.md
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ These devices use custom DeviceInstanceId values built from the device `NAME` an
 * `MTD\VENDOR_foo&NAME_baz`
 * `MTD\VENDOR_foo&PRODUCT_bar&NAME_baz`
 
+If the `FirmwareGType` quirk is set for the device then the firmware is read back from the device at
+daemon startup and parsed for the version number.
+In the event the firmware has multiple child images then the device GUIDs are used as firmware IDs.
+
 ## Update Behavior
 
 The MTD device is erased in chunks, written and then read back to verify.
diff --git a/plugins/mtd/fu-mtd-device.c b/plugins/mtd/fu-mtd-device.c
index 77057c567..50cf2814c 100644
--- a/plugins/mtd/fu-mtd-device.c
+++ b/plugins/mtd/fu-mtd-device.c
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ fu_mtd_device_to_string(FuDevice *device, guint idt, GString *str)
 static gboolean
 fu_mtd_device_setup(FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
+	FuFirmware *firmware_child = NULL;
+	GPtrArray *instance_ids;
 	GType firmware_gtype = fu_device_get_firmware_gtype(device);
 	const gchar *fn;
 	g_autoptr(FuFirmware) firmware = NULL;
@@ -53,11 +55,24 @@ fu_mtd_device_setup(FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 	if (!fu_firmware_parse_file(firmware, file, FWUPD_INSTALL_FLAG_NONE, error))
 		return FALSE;
 
+	/* find the firmware child that matches any of the device GUID,
+	 * and use the main firmware version if no match */
+	instance_ids = fu_device_get_instance_ids(device);
+	for (guint i = 0; i < instance_ids->len; i++) {
+		const gchar *instance_id = g_ptr_array_index(instance_ids, i);
+		g_autofree gchar *guid = fwupd_guid_hash_string(instance_id);
+		firmware_child = fu_firmware_get_image_by_id(firmware, guid, NULL);
+		if (firmware_child != NULL)
+			break;
+	}
+	if (firmware_child == NULL)
+		firmware_child = firmware;
+
 	/* copy over the version */
-	if (fu_firmware_get_version(firmware) != NULL)
-		fu_device_set_version(device, fu_firmware_get_version(firmware));
-	if (fu_firmware_get_version_raw(firmware) != G_MAXUINT64)
-		fu_device_set_version_raw(device, fu_firmware_get_version_raw(firmware));
+	if (fu_firmware_get_version(firmware_child) != NULL)
+		fu_device_set_version(device, fu_firmware_get_version(firmware_child));
+	if (fu_firmware_get_version_raw(firmware_child) != G_MAXUINT64)
+		fu_device_set_version_raw(device, fu_firmware_get_version_raw(firmware_child));
 
 	/* success */
 	return TRUE;