diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c b/lib/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c
index f1d0911a59..9879b54d52 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c
@@ -766,7 +766,6 @@ nvme_ctrlr_shutdown(struct spdk_nvme_ctrlr *ctrlr)
 		if (csts.bits.shst == SPDK_NVME_SHST_COMPLETE) {
 			SPDK_DEBUGLOG(SPDK_LOG_NVME, "shutdown complete in %u milliseconds\n",
 				      ms_waited);
-			ctrlr->is_shutdown = true;
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -1890,8 +1889,8 @@ nvme_ctrlr_async_event_cb(void *arg, const struct spdk_nvme_cpl *cpl)
 		active_proc->aer_cb_fn(active_proc->aer_cb_arg, cpl);
 	}
 
-	/* If the ctrlr is already shutdown, we should not send aer again */
-	if (ctrlr->is_shutdown) {
+	/* If the ctrlr was removed or in the destruct state, we should not send aer again */
+	if (ctrlr->is_removed || ctrlr->is_destructed) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -2564,7 +2563,7 @@ nvme_ctrlr_construct(struct spdk_nvme_ctrlr *ctrlr)
 	ctrlr->free_io_qids = NULL;
 	ctrlr->is_resetting = false;
 	ctrlr->is_failed = false;
-	ctrlr->is_shutdown = false;
+	ctrlr->is_destructed = false;
 
 	TAILQ_INIT(&ctrlr->active_io_qpairs);
 	STAILQ_INIT(&ctrlr->queued_aborts);
@@ -2617,6 +2616,8 @@ nvme_ctrlr_destruct(struct spdk_nvme_ctrlr *ctrlr)
 
 	SPDK_DEBUGLOG(SPDK_LOG_NVME, "Prepare to destruct SSD: %s\n", ctrlr->trid.traddr);
 
+	ctrlr->is_destructed = true;
+
 	spdk_nvme_qpair_process_completions(ctrlr->adminq, 0);
 	nvme_transport_admin_qpair_abort_aers(ctrlr->adminq);
 
diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h b/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
index 9f0de3e73a..a4f79e5e55 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_internal.h
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ struct spdk_nvme_ctrlr {
 
 	bool				is_failed;
 
-	bool				is_shutdown;
+	bool				is_destructed;
 
 	bool				timeout_enabled;