diff --git a/lib/librte_vhost/vhost.h b/lib/librte_vhost/vhost.h
index 02a05f93db..daa9328144 100644
--- a/lib/librte_vhost/vhost.h
+++ b/lib/librte_vhost/vhost.h
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@
 
 /* Used to indicate that the device is running on a data core */
 #define VIRTIO_DEV_RUNNING 1
+/* Used to indicate that the device is ready to operate */
+#define VIRTIO_DEV_READY 2
 
 /* Backend value set by guest. */
 #define VIRTIO_DEV_STOPPED -1
diff --git a/lib/librte_vhost/vhost_user.c b/lib/librte_vhost/vhost_user.c
index 640661b3e2..1806c0ff76 100644
--- a/lib/librte_vhost/vhost_user.c
+++ b/lib/librte_vhost/vhost_user.c
@@ -678,14 +678,18 @@ vhost_user_set_vring_kick(struct virtio_net *dev, struct VhostUserMsg *pmsg)
 		close(vq->kickfd);
 	vq->kickfd = file.fd;
 
-	if (virtio_is_ready(dev) && !(dev->flags & VIRTIO_DEV_RUNNING)) {
-		if (dev->dequeue_zero_copy) {
-			RTE_LOG(INFO, VHOST_CONFIG,
-				"dequeue zero copy is enabled\n");
-		}
+	if (virtio_is_ready(dev)) {
+		dev->flags |= VIRTIO_DEV_READY;
 
-		if (notify_ops->new_device(dev->vid) == 0)
-			dev->flags |= VIRTIO_DEV_RUNNING;
+		if (!(dev->flags & VIRTIO_DEV_RUNNING)) {
+			if (dev->dequeue_zero_copy) {
+				RTE_LOG(INFO, VHOST_CONFIG,
+						"dequeue zero copy is enabled\n");
+			}
+
+			if (notify_ops->new_device(dev->vid) == 0)
+				dev->flags |= VIRTIO_DEV_RUNNING;
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -720,6 +724,8 @@ vhost_user_get_vring_base(struct virtio_net *dev,
 		notify_ops->destroy_device(dev->vid);
 	}
 
+	dev->flags &= ~VIRTIO_DEV_READY;
+
 	/* Here we are safe to get the last used index */
 	state->num = vq->last_used_idx;