diff --git a/test/vhost/common/common.sh b/test/vhost/common/common.sh
index ff575747e..09c727456 100644
--- a/test/vhost/common/common.sh
+++ b/test/vhost/common/common.sh
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ function spdk_vhost_run()
 			--conf-path=*) local vhost_conf_path="${param#*=}" ;;
 			--json-path=*) local vhost_json_path="${param#*=}" ;;
 			--memory=*) local memory=${param#*=} ;;
+			--no-pci*) local no_pci="-u" ;;
 			*)
 				error "Invalid parameter '$param'"
 				return 1
@@ -158,11 +159,11 @@ function spdk_vhost_run()
 		return 1
 	fi
 
-	local cmd="$vhost_app -m $reactor_mask -p $master_core -s $memory -r $vhost_dir/rpc.sock"
+	local cmd="$vhost_app -m $reactor_mask -p $master_core -s $memory -r $vhost_dir/rpc.sock $no_pci"
 	if [[ -n "$vhost_conf_path" ]]; then
 		cp $vhost_conf_template $vhost_conf_file
 		$SPDK_BUILD_DIR/scripts/gen_nvme.sh >> $vhost_conf_file
-		cmd="$vhost_app -m $reactor_mask -p $master_core -c $vhost_conf_file -s $memory -r $vhost_dir/rpc.sock"
+		cmd="$vhost_app -m $reactor_mask -p $master_core -c $vhost_conf_file -s $memory -r $vhost_dir/rpc.sock $no_pci"
 	fi
 
 	notice "Loging to:   $vhost_log_file"
@@ -176,7 +177,8 @@ function spdk_vhost_run()
 
 	notice "waiting for app to run..."
 	waitforlisten "$vhost_pid" "$vhost_dir/rpc.sock"
-	if [[ -z "$vhost_conf_path" ]]; then
+	#do not generate nvmes if pci access is disabled
+	if [[ -z "$vhost_conf_path" ]] && [[ -z "$no_pci" ]]; then
 		$SPDK_BUILD_DIR/scripts/gen_nvme.sh "--json" | $SPDK_BUILD_DIR/scripts/rpc.py\
 		 -s $vhost_dir/rpc.sock load_subsystem_config
 	fi
diff --git a/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc2.sh b/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc2.sh
index 2c1f06cac..ead0f8646 100644
--- a/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc2.sh
+++ b/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc2.sh
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@ function migration_tc2_configure_vhost()
 	waitforlisten "$nvmf_tgt_pid" "$nvmf_dir/rpc.sock"
 	timing_exit start_nvmf_tgt
 
-	spdk_vhost_run --memory=512 --vhost-num=0
+	spdk_vhost_run --memory=512 --vhost-num=0 --no-pci
 	# Those are global intentionaly
 	vhost_1_reactor_mask=0x2
 	vhost_1_master_core=1
-	spdk_vhost_run --memory=512 --vhost-num=1
+	spdk_vhost_run --memory=512 --vhost-num=1 --no-pci
 
 	local rdma_ip_list=$(get_available_rdma_ips)
 	local nvmf_target_ip=$(echo "$rdma_ip_list" | head -n 1)
diff --git a/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc3a.sh b/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc3a.sh
index 2e68acdfd..b9eba44f5 100644
--- a/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc3a.sh
+++ b/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc3a.sh
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ function host1_start_vhost()
 
 	notice "Starting vhost0 instance on local server"
 	trap 'host1_cleanup_vhost; error_exit "${FUNCNAME}" "${LINENO}"' INT ERR EXIT
-	spdk_vhost_run --vhost-num=0
+	spdk_vhost_run --vhost-num=0 --no-pci
 	$rpc_0 construct_nvme_bdev -b Nvme0 -t rdma -f ipv4 -a $RDMA_TARGET_IP -s 4420 -n "nqn.2018-02.io.spdk:cnode1"
 	$rpc_0 construct_vhost_scsi_controller $incoming_vm_ctrlr
 	$rpc_0 add_vhost_scsi_lun $incoming_vm_ctrlr 0 Nvme0n1
diff --git a/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc3b.sh b/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc3b.sh
index f4b358456..888b4f246 100755
--- a/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc3b.sh
+++ b/test/vhost/migration/migration-tc3b.sh
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ function host_2_start_vhost()
 
 	notice "Starting vhost 1 instance on remote server"
 	trap 'host_2_cleanup_vhost; error_exit "${FUNCNAME}" "${LINENO}"' INT ERR EXIT
-	spdk_vhost_run --vhost-num=1
+	spdk_vhost_run --vhost-num=1 --no-pci
 
 	$rpc construct_nvme_bdev -b Nvme0 -t rdma -f ipv4 -a $RDMA_TARGET_IP -s 4420 -n "nqn.2018-02.io.spdk:cnode1"
 	$rpc construct_vhost_scsi_controller $target_vm_ctrl