diff --git a/include/spdk/nvmf_transport.h b/include/spdk/nvmf_transport.h
index 2ff83f998..5ef71dc6d 100644
--- a/include/spdk/nvmf_transport.h
+++ b/include/spdk/nvmf_transport.h
@@ -89,12 +89,6 @@ enum spdk_nvmf_zcopy_phase {
 	NVMF_ZCOPY_PHASE_INIT_FAILED  /* Failed to get the buffers */
 };
 
-static inline bool
-spdk_nvmf_using_zcopy(enum spdk_nvmf_zcopy_phase phase)
-{
-	return (phase != NVMF_ZCOPY_PHASE_NONE);
-}
-
 struct spdk_nvmf_request {
 	struct spdk_nvmf_qpair		*qpair;
 	uint32_t			length;
@@ -457,6 +451,12 @@ int spdk_nvmf_request_complete(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req);
 int spdk_nvmf_request_zcopy_start(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req);
 int spdk_nvmf_request_zcopy_end(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req, bool commit);
 
+static inline bool
+spdk_nvmf_request_using_zcopy(const struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
+{
+	return req->zcopy_phase != NVMF_ZCOPY_PHASE_NONE;
+}
+
 /**
  * Remove the given qpair from the poll group.
  *
diff --git a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
index 5e251fbfd..b01d5614f 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ nvmf_subsystem_pg_from_connect_cmd(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
 static void
 nvmf_add_to_outstanding_queue(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
 {
-	if (!spdk_nvmf_using_zcopy(req->zcopy_phase)) {
+	if (!spdk_nvmf_request_using_zcopy(req)) {
 		/* if using zcopy then request has been added when the start zcopy was actioned */
 		struct spdk_nvmf_qpair *qpair = req->qpair;
 		TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&qpair->outstanding, req, link);
@@ -4170,7 +4170,7 @@ spdk_nvmf_request_exec(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
 	struct spdk_nvmf_transport *transport = qpair->transport;
 	enum spdk_nvmf_request_exec_status status;
 
-	if (!spdk_nvmf_using_zcopy(req->zcopy_phase)) {
+	if (!spdk_nvmf_request_using_zcopy(req)) {
 		if (!nvmf_check_subsystem_active(req)) {
 			return;
 		}
diff --git a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr_bdev.c b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr_bdev.c
index 5d1fac958..4c2feac83 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr_bdev.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr_bdev.c
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ nvmf_bdev_ctrlr_read_cmd(struct spdk_bdev *bdev, struct spdk_bdev_desc *desc,
 		return SPDK_NVMF_REQUEST_EXEC_STATUS_COMPLETE;
 	}
 
-	assert(!spdk_nvmf_using_zcopy(req->zcopy_phase));
+	assert(!spdk_nvmf_request_using_zcopy(req));
 
 	rc = spdk_bdev_readv_blocks(desc, ch, req->iov, req->iovcnt, start_lba, num_blocks,
 				    nvmf_bdev_ctrlr_complete_cmd, req);
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ nvmf_bdev_ctrlr_write_cmd(struct spdk_bdev *bdev, struct spdk_bdev_desc *desc,
 		return SPDK_NVMF_REQUEST_EXEC_STATUS_COMPLETE;
 	}
 
-	assert(!spdk_nvmf_using_zcopy(req->zcopy_phase));
+	assert(!spdk_nvmf_request_using_zcopy(req));
 
 	rc = spdk_bdev_writev_blocks(desc, ch, req->iov, req->iovcnt, start_lba, num_blocks,
 				     nvmf_bdev_ctrlr_complete_cmd, req);