diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_rdma.c b/lib/nvme/nvme_rdma.c
index d3dae5c862..f98252948e 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_rdma.c
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_rdma.c
@@ -500,6 +500,7 @@ nvme_rdma_connect(struct nvme_rdma_qpair *rqpair)
 
 	param.private_data = &request_data;
 	param.private_data_len = sizeof(request_data);
+	param.retry_count = 7;
 
 	ret = rdma_connect(rqpair->cm_id, &param);
 	if (ret) {