diff --git a/lib/nvmf/direct.c b/lib/nvmf/direct.c
index a525e3b51..e8f1be128 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/direct.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/direct.c
@@ -176,10 +176,8 @@ nvmf_direct_ctrlr_process_admin_cmd(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
 		}
 		break;
 	case SPDK_NVME_OPC_ASYNC_EVENT_REQUEST:
-		SPDK_TRACELOG(SPDK_TRACE_NVMF, "Async Event Request\n");
-		session->aer_req = req;
+		return spdk_nvmf_session_async_event_request(req);
 
-		return SPDK_NVMF_REQUEST_EXEC_STATUS_ASYNCHRONOUS;
 	case SPDK_NVME_OPC_KEEP_ALIVE:
 		SPDK_TRACELOG(SPDK_TRACE_NVMF, "Keep Alive\n");
 		/*
diff --git a/lib/nvmf/session.c b/lib/nvmf/session.c
index 2826f8bc0..5a427030e 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/session.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/session.c
@@ -763,3 +763,14 @@ spdk_nvmf_session_get_features_async_event_configuration(struct spdk_nvmf_reques
 	rsp->cdw0 = session->async_event_config.raw;
 	return SPDK_NVMF_REQUEST_EXEC_STATUS_COMPLETE;
 }
+
+int
+spdk_nvmf_session_async_event_request(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
+{
+	struct spdk_nvmf_session *session = req->conn->sess;
+
+	SPDK_TRACELOG(SPDK_TRACE_NVMF, "Async Event Request\n");
+
+	session->aer_req = req;
+	return SPDK_NVMF_REQUEST_EXEC_STATUS_ASYNCHRONOUS;
+}
diff --git a/lib/nvmf/session.h b/lib/nvmf/session.h
index 9079ea57b..9b5ff6cd4 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/session.h
+++ b/lib/nvmf/session.h
@@ -129,4 +129,6 @@ int spdk_nvmf_session_get_features_number_of_queues(struct spdk_nvmf_request *re
 int spdk_nvmf_session_set_features_async_event_configuration(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req);
 int spdk_nvmf_session_get_features_async_event_configuration(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req);
 
+int spdk_nvmf_session_async_event_request(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/lib/nvmf/virtual.c b/lib/nvmf/virtual.c
index a505071a9..9ed9e1a58 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/virtual.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/virtual.c
@@ -340,10 +340,7 @@ nvmf_virtual_ctrlr_process_admin_cmd(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
 	case SPDK_NVME_OPC_SET_FEATURES:
 		return nvmf_virtual_ctrlr_set_features(req);
 	case SPDK_NVME_OPC_ASYNC_EVENT_REQUEST:
-		SPDK_TRACELOG(SPDK_TRACE_NVMF, "Async Event Request\n");
-		/* TODO: Just release the request as consumed. AER events will never
-		 * be triggered. */
-		return SPDK_NVMF_REQUEST_EXEC_STATUS_RELEASE;
+		return spdk_nvmf_session_async_event_request(req);
 	case SPDK_NVME_OPC_KEEP_ALIVE:
 		SPDK_TRACELOG(SPDK_TRACE_NVMF, "Keep Alive\n");
 		/*
diff --git a/test/lib/nvmf/direct/direct_ut.c b/test/lib/nvmf/direct/direct_ut.c
index 6bbd9dbd3..2dba091e6 100644
--- a/test/lib/nvmf/direct/direct_ut.c
+++ b/test/lib/nvmf/direct/direct_ut.c
@@ -174,6 +174,12 @@ spdk_nvmf_session_get_features_async_event_configuration(struct spdk_nvmf_reques
 	return -1;
 }
 
+int
+spdk_nvmf_session_async_event_request(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
 /* test suite function */
 static void
 nvmf_test_nvmf_direct_ctrlr_admin_identify_nslist(void)
diff --git a/test/lib/nvmf/virtual/virtual_ut.c b/test/lib/nvmf/virtual/virtual_ut.c
index beb18f364..c4ee0258a 100644
--- a/test/lib/nvmf/virtual/virtual_ut.c
+++ b/test/lib/nvmf/virtual/virtual_ut.c
@@ -88,6 +88,12 @@ spdk_nvmf_session_get_features_async_event_configuration(struct spdk_nvmf_reques
 	return -1;
 }
 
+int
+spdk_nvmf_session_async_event_request(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
+{
+	return -1;
+}
+
 int
 spdk_nvmf_request_complete(struct spdk_nvmf_request *req)
 {