diff --git a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
index 19ddc94e3..ff76cd901 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ nvmf_ctrlr_keep_alive_poll(void *ctx)
 	keep_alive_timeout_tick = ctrlr->last_keep_alive_tick +
 				  ctrlr->feat.keep_alive_timer.bits.kato * spdk_get_ticks_hz() / UINT64_C(1000);
 	if (now > keep_alive_timeout_tick) {
-		SPDK_NOTICELOG("Disconnecting host from subsystem %s due to keep alive timeout.\n",
-			       ctrlr->subsys->subnqn);
+		SPDK_NOTICELOG("Disconnecting host %s from subsystem %s due to keep alive timeout.\n",
+			       ctrlr->hostnqn, ctrlr->subsys->subnqn);
 		/* set the Controller Fatal Status bit to '1' */
 		if (ctrlr->vcprop.csts.bits.cfs == 0) {
 			ctrlr->vcprop.csts.bits.cfs = 1;
@@ -591,6 +591,15 @@ _nvmf_ctrlr_add_io_qpair(void *ctx)
 	}
 
 	admin_qpair = ctrlr->admin_qpair;
+	if (admin_qpair->state != SPDK_NVMF_QPAIR_ACTIVE || admin_qpair->group == NULL) {
+		/* There is a chance that admin qpair is being destroyed at this moment due to e.g.
+		 * expired keep alive timer. Part of the qpair destruction process is change of qpair's
+		 * state to DEACTIVATING and removing it from poll group */
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("Inactive admin qpair (state %d, group %p)\n", admin_qpair->state, admin_qpair->group);
+		SPDK_NVMF_INVALID_CONNECT_CMD(rsp, qid);
+		spdk_nvmf_request_complete(req);
+		return;
+	}
 	qpair->ctrlr = ctrlr;
 	spdk_thread_send_msg(admin_qpair->group->thread, nvmf_ctrlr_add_io_qpair, req);
 }
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c/ctrlr_ut.c b/test/unit/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c/ctrlr_ut.c
index 280ec1dbb..411e84bf8 100644
--- a/test/unit/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c/ctrlr_ut.c
+++ b/test/unit/lib/nvmf/ctrlr.c/ctrlr_ut.c
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ test_connect(void)
 
 	memset(&admin_qpair, 0, sizeof(admin_qpair));
 	admin_qpair.group = &group;
+	admin_qpair.state = SPDK_NVMF_QPAIR_ACTIVE;
 
 	memset(&tgt, 0, sizeof(tgt));
 	memset(&transport, 0, sizeof(transport));
@@ -765,6 +766,21 @@ test_connect(void)
 	CU_ASSERT(qpair.ctrlr == NULL);
 	CU_ASSERT(sgroups[subsystem.id].io_outstanding == 0);
 
+	/* I/O connect when admin qpair is being destroyed */
+	admin_qpair.group = NULL;
+	admin_qpair.state = SPDK_NVMF_QPAIR_DEACTIVATING;
+	memset(&rsp, 0, sizeof(rsp));
+	sgroups[subsystem.id].io_outstanding++;
+	TAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&qpair.outstanding, &req, link);
+	rc = nvmf_ctrlr_cmd_connect(&req);
+	poll_threads();
+	CU_ASSERT(rsp.nvme_cpl.status.sct == SPDK_NVME_SCT_COMMAND_SPECIFIC);
+	CU_ASSERT(rsp.nvme_cpl.status.sc == SPDK_NVMF_FABRIC_SC_INVALID_PARAM);
+	CU_ASSERT(qpair.ctrlr == NULL);
+	CU_ASSERT(sgroups[subsystem.id].io_outstanding == 0);
+	admin_qpair.group = &group;
+	admin_qpair.state = SPDK_NVMF_QPAIR_ACTIVE;
+
 	/* Clean up globals */
 	MOCK_CLEAR(spdk_nvmf_tgt_find_subsystem);
 	MOCK_CLEAR(spdk_nvmf_poll_group_create);