diff --git a/test/lib/nvme/unit/nvme_ctrlr_cmd_c/nvme_ctrlr_cmd_ut.c b/test/lib/nvme/unit/nvme_ctrlr_cmd_c/nvme_ctrlr_cmd_ut.c
index a52d28c1d..d8f76446f 100644
--- a/test/lib/nvme/unit/nvme_ctrlr_cmd_c/nvme_ctrlr_cmd_ut.c
+++ b/test/lib/nvme/unit/nvme_ctrlr_cmd_c/nvme_ctrlr_cmd_ut.c
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ nvme_allocate_request_contig(void *buffer, uint32_t payload_size, spdk_nvme_cmd_
 
 	payload.type = NVME_PAYLOAD_TYPE_CONTIG;
 	payload.u.contig = buffer;
+	payload.md = NULL;
 
 	return nvme_allocate_request(&payload, payload_size, cb_fn, cb_arg);
 }