diff --git a/test/nvme/overhead/overhead.c b/test/nvme/overhead/overhead.c
index e26ab8ec3..553f1a545 100644
--- a/test/nvme/overhead/overhead.c
+++ b/test/nvme/overhead/overhead.c
@@ -325,9 +325,9 @@ submit_single_io(void)
 
 	if (rc != 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "starting I/O failed\n");
+	} else {
+		g_ns->current_queue_depth++;
 	}
-
-	g_ns->current_queue_depth++;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/test/nvme/reset/reset.c b/test/nvme/reset/reset.c
index e83d55788..70d44db39 100644
--- a/test/nvme/reset/reset.c
+++ b/test/nvme/reset/reset.c
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ submit_single_io(struct ns_worker_ctx *ns_ctx)
 
 	if (rc != 0) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "starting I/O failed\n");
+	} else {
+		ns_ctx->current_queue_depth++;
 	}
-
-	ns_ctx->current_queue_depth++;
 }
 
 static void