diff --git a/scripts/perf/nvmf/README.md b/scripts/perf/nvmf/README.md
index 1f3033a86b..af2397c147 100644
--- a/scripts/perf/nvmf/README.md
+++ b/scripts/perf/nvmf/README.md
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ Optional, SPDK Target only:
   Default: static.
 - num_shared_buffers - int, number of shared buffers to allocate when
   creating transport layer. Default: 4096.
+- max_queue_depth - int, max number of outstanding I/O per queue. Default: 128.
 - dif_insert_strip - bool. Only for TCP transport. Enable DIF option when
   creating transport layer. Default: false.
 - null_block_dif_type - int, 0-3. Level of DIF type to use when creating
diff --git a/scripts/perf/nvmf/run_nvmf.py b/scripts/perf/nvmf/run_nvmf.py
index 9357746419..aa5dfe2e01 100755
--- a/scripts/perf/nvmf/run_nvmf.py
+++ b/scripts/perf/nvmf/run_nvmf.py
@@ -1052,12 +1052,15 @@ class SPDKTarget(Target):
         self.dif_insert_strip = False
         self.null_block_dif_type = 0
         self.num_shared_buffers = 4096
+        self.max_queue_depth = 128
         self.bpf_proc = None
         self.bpf_scripts = []
         self.enable_idxd = False
 
         if "num_shared_buffers" in target_config:
             self.num_shared_buffers = target_config["num_shared_buffers"]
+        if "max_queue_depth" in target_config:
+            self.max_queue_depth = target_config["max_queue_depth"]
         if "null_block_dif_type" in target_config:
             self.null_block_dif_type = target_config["null_block_dif_type"]
         if "dif_insert_strip" in target_config:
@@ -1091,9 +1094,10 @@ class SPDKTarget(Target):
         if self.enable_adq:
             self.adq_configure_tc()
 
-        # Create RDMA transport layer
+        # Create transport layer
         rpc.nvmf.nvmf_create_transport(self.client, trtype=self.transport,
                                        num_shared_buffers=self.num_shared_buffers,
+                                       max_queue_depth=self.max_queue_depth,
                                        dif_insert_or_strip=self.dif_insert_strip,
                                        sock_priority=self.adq_priority)
         self.log_print("SPDK NVMeOF transport layer:")