diff --git a/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.c b/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.c
index 310a85006..9015aa0a2 100644
--- a/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.c
+++ b/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.c
@@ -1179,6 +1179,21 @@ raid_bdev_create(struct raid_bdev_config *raid_cfg)
 {
 	struct raid_bdev *raid_bdev;
 	struct spdk_bdev *raid_bdev_gen;
+	struct raid_bdev_module *module;
+
+	module = raid_bdev_module_find(raid_cfg->level);
+	if (module == NULL) {
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("Unsupported raid level '%d'\n", raid_cfg->level);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	assert(module->base_bdevs_min != 0);
+	if (raid_cfg->num_base_bdevs < module->base_bdevs_min) {
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("At least %u base devices required for %s\n",
+			    module->base_bdevs_min,
+			    raid_bdev_level_to_str(raid_cfg->level));
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	raid_bdev = calloc(1, sizeof(*raid_bdev));
 	if (!raid_bdev) {
@@ -1186,7 +1201,7 @@ raid_bdev_create(struct raid_bdev_config *raid_cfg)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	assert(raid_cfg->num_base_bdevs != 0);
+	raid_bdev->module = module;
 	raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs = raid_cfg->num_base_bdevs;
 	raid_bdev->base_bdev_info = calloc(raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs,
 					   sizeof(struct raid_base_bdev_info));
@@ -1205,14 +1220,6 @@ raid_bdev_create(struct raid_bdev_config *raid_cfg)
 	raid_bdev->config = raid_cfg;
 	raid_bdev->level = raid_cfg->level;
 
-	raid_bdev->module = raid_bdev_module_find(raid_bdev->level);
-	if (raid_bdev->module == NULL) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("Unsupported raid level '%d'\n", raid_bdev->level);
-		free(raid_bdev->base_bdev_info);
-		free(raid_bdev);
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
 	raid_bdev_gen = &raid_bdev->bdev;
 
 	raid_bdev_gen->name = strdup(raid_cfg->name);
diff --git a/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.h b/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.h
index a4f6cbb5c..125229947 100644
--- a/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.h
+++ b/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.h
@@ -256,6 +256,9 @@ struct raid_bdev_module {
 	/* RAID level implemented by this module */
 	enum raid_level level;
 
+	/* Minimum required number of base bdevs. Must be > 0. */
+	uint8_t base_bdevs_min;
+
 	/*
 	 * Called when the raid is starting, right before changing the state to
 	 * online and registering the bdev. Parameters of the bdev like blockcnt
diff --git a/module/bdev/raid/raid0.c b/module/bdev/raid/raid0.c
index e9b079e12..7ed26c5ed 100644
--- a/module/bdev/raid/raid0.c
+++ b/module/bdev/raid/raid0.c
@@ -374,6 +374,7 @@ static int raid0_start(struct raid_bdev *raid_bdev)
 
 static struct raid_bdev_module g_raid0_module = {
 	.level = RAID0,
+	.base_bdevs_min = 1,
 	.start = raid0_start,
 	.submit_rw_request = raid0_submit_rw_request,
 	.submit_null_payload_request = raid0_submit_null_payload_request,