diff --git a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
index 75d851ec5..7d6b8d815 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ nvmf_ctrlr_association_remove(void *ctx)
 	}
 
 	nvmf_ctrlr_stop_association_timer(ctrlr);
-	return 1;
+	return SPDK_POLLER_BUSY;
 }
 
 static void