diff --git a/lib/vhost/vhost.c b/lib/vhost/vhost.c
index 9cdd8d3a4..4ac86e83e 100644
--- a/lib/vhost/vhost.c
+++ b/lib/vhost/vhost.c
@@ -1282,7 +1282,8 @@ new_connection(int vid)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	vsession = spdk_dma_zmalloc(sizeof(struct spdk_vhost_session),
+	vsession = spdk_dma_zmalloc(sizeof(struct spdk_vhost_session) +
+				    vdev->backend->session_ctx_size,
 				    SPDK_CACHE_LINE_SIZE, NULL);
 	if (vsession == NULL) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("spdk_dma_zmalloc failed\n");
diff --git a/lib/vhost/vhost_blk.c b/lib/vhost/vhost_blk.c
index 90ee633e0..b43fa81bc 100644
--- a/lib/vhost/vhost_blk.c
+++ b/lib/vhost/vhost_blk.c
@@ -832,6 +832,7 @@ static const struct spdk_vhost_dev_backend vhost_blk_device_backend = {
 	(1ULL << VIRTIO_BLK_F_RO) | (1ULL << VIRTIO_BLK_F_FLUSH) | (1ULL << VIRTIO_BLK_F_CONFIG_WCE) |
 	(1ULL << VIRTIO_BLK_F_BARRIER) | (1ULL << VIRTIO_BLK_F_SCSI) | (1ULL << VIRTIO_BLK_F_DISCARD) |
 	(1ULL << VIRTIO_BLK_F_WRITE_ZEROES),
+	.session_ctx_size = 0,
 	.start_device =  spdk_vhost_blk_start,
 	.stop_device = spdk_vhost_blk_stop,
 	.vhost_get_config = spdk_vhost_blk_get_config,
diff --git a/lib/vhost/vhost_internal.h b/lib/vhost/vhost_internal.h
index f13346863..b7efdd4e0 100644
--- a/lib/vhost/vhost_internal.h
+++ b/lib/vhost/vhost_internal.h
@@ -115,6 +115,12 @@ struct spdk_vhost_dev_backend {
 	uint64_t virtio_features;
 	uint64_t disabled_features;
 
+	/**
+	 * Size of additional per-session context data
+	 * allocated whenever a new client connects.
+	 */
+	size_t session_ctx_size;
+
 	/**
 	 * Callbacks for starting and pausing the device.
 	 * The first param is struct spdk_vhost_dev *.
diff --git a/lib/vhost/vhost_nvme.c b/lib/vhost/vhost_nvme.c
index c26640c46..d796cdfce 100644
--- a/lib/vhost/vhost_nvme.c
+++ b/lib/vhost/vhost_nvme.c
@@ -1249,6 +1249,7 @@ spdk_vhost_nvme_write_config_json(struct spdk_vhost_dev *vdev, struct spdk_json_
 }
 
 static const struct spdk_vhost_dev_backend spdk_vhost_nvme_device_backend = {
+	.session_ctx_size = 0,
 	.start_device = spdk_vhost_nvme_start_device,
 	.stop_device = spdk_vhost_nvme_stop_device,
 	.dump_info_json = spdk_vhost_nvme_dump_info_json,
diff --git a/lib/vhost/vhost_scsi.c b/lib/vhost/vhost_scsi.c
index e421605ca..4c1ec29f8 100644
--- a/lib/vhost/vhost_scsi.c
+++ b/lib/vhost/vhost_scsi.c
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ static int spdk_vhost_scsi_dev_remove(struct spdk_vhost_dev *vdev);
 const struct spdk_vhost_dev_backend spdk_vhost_scsi_device_backend = {
 	.virtio_features = SPDK_VHOST_SCSI_FEATURES,
 	.disabled_features = SPDK_VHOST_SCSI_DISABLED_FEATURES,
+	.session_ctx_size = 0,
 	.start_device =  spdk_vhost_scsi_start,
 	.stop_device = spdk_vhost_scsi_stop,
 	.dump_info_json = spdk_vhost_scsi_dump_info_json,