diff --git a/lib/nvme/nvme_ns.c b/lib/nvme/nvme_ns.c
index 5d424e5c7..88939352a 100644
--- a/lib/nvme/nvme_ns.c
+++ b/lib/nvme/nvme_ns.c
@@ -373,6 +373,11 @@ int nvme_ns_construct(struct spdk_nvme_ns *ns, uint32_t id,
 		return rc;
 	}
 
+	/* skip Identify NS ID Descriptor List for inactive NS */
+	if (!spdk_nvme_ctrlr_is_active_ns(ctrlr, id)) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	return nvme_ctrlr_identify_id_desc(ns);
 }
 
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/nvme/nvme_ns.c/nvme_ns_ut.c b/test/unit/lib/nvme/nvme_ns.c/nvme_ns_ut.c
index 22c59e06c..ef3604ed4 100644
--- a/test/unit/lib/nvme/nvme_ns.c/nvme_ns_ut.c
+++ b/test/unit/lib/nvme/nvme_ns.c/nvme_ns_ut.c
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ DEFINE_STUB(nvme_wait_for_completion_robust_lock, int,
 	     struct nvme_completion_poll_status *status,
 	     pthread_mutex_t *robust_mutex), 0);
 
+DEFINE_STUB(spdk_nvme_ctrlr_is_active_ns, bool,
+	    (struct spdk_nvme_ctrlr *ctrlr, uint32_t nsid), 1);
+
 int
 nvme_ctrlr_cmd_identify(struct spdk_nvme_ctrlr *ctrlr, uint8_t cns, uint16_t cntid, uint32_t nsid,
 			void *payload, size_t payload_size,