diff --git a/include/spdk/bdev.h b/include/spdk/bdev.h
index cdb0dda0c4..a4f58dbaf2 100644
--- a/include/spdk/bdev.h
+++ b/include/spdk/bdev.h
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ struct spdk_bdev_io {
 	enum spdk_bdev_io_status status;
 
 	/** Used in virtual device (e.g., RAID), indicates its parent spdk_bdev_io **/
-	void *parent;
+	struct spdk_bdev_io *parent;
 
 	/** Used in virtual device (e.g., RAID) for storing multiple child device I/Os **/
 	TAILQ_HEAD(child_io, spdk_bdev_io) child_io;