diff --git a/lib/nvmf/tcp.c b/lib/nvmf/tcp.c
index 791ac52f7..5ab54411c 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/tcp.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/tcp.c
@@ -1294,7 +1294,7 @@ spdk_nvmf_tcp_capsule_cmd_hdr_handle(struct spdk_nvmf_tcp_transport *ttransport,
 	}
 
 	pdu->req = tcp_req;
-	spdk_nvmf_tcp_req_set_state(tcp_req, TCP_REQUEST_STATE_NEW);
+	assert(tcp_req->state == TCP_REQUEST_STATE_NEW);
 	spdk_nvmf_tcp_req_process(ttransport, tcp_req);
 	return;
 }