diff --git a/lib/bdev/crypto/vbdev_crypto.c b/lib/bdev/crypto/vbdev_crypto.c
index 309aeec2a..dcb041f12 100644
--- a/lib/bdev/crypto/vbdev_crypto.c
+++ b/lib/bdev/crypto/vbdev_crypto.c
@@ -1202,6 +1202,7 @@ create_crypto_disk(const char *bdev_name, const char *vbdev_name,
 	}
 
 	if (!bdev) {
+		SPDK_NOTICELOG("vbdev creation deferred pending base bdev arrival\n");
 		return 0;
 	}