diff --git a/test/nvme/hotplug.sh b/test/nvme/hotplug.sh
index 615958871..7d12b6418 100755
--- a/test/nvme/hotplug.sh
+++ b/test/nvme/hotplug.sh
@@ -104,10 +104,13 @@ ssh_vm 'echo ready'
 timing_exit wait_for_vm
 
 timing_enter copy_repo
+files_to_copy="scripts "
+files_to_copy+="include/spdk/pci_ids.h "
+files_to_copy+="examples/nvme/hotplug/hotplug "
 (
 	cd "$rootdir"
-	tar -cf - .
-) | (ssh_vm 'tar -xf -')
+	tar -cf - $files_to_copy
+) | (ssh_vm "tar -xf -")
 timing_exit copy_repo
 
 devices_initialization