diff --git a/test/unit/lib/nvme/nvme.c/nvme_ut.c b/test/unit/lib/nvme/nvme.c/nvme_ut.c
index ead6f3d07..f62db8c02 100644
--- a/test/unit/lib/nvme/nvme.c/nvme_ut.c
+++ b/test/unit/lib/nvme/nvme.c/nvme_ut.c
@@ -749,6 +749,7 @@ test_nvme_free_request(void)
 	/* the code under tests asserts this condition */
 	match_req.num_children = 0;
 	STAILQ_INIT(&qpair.free_req);
+	match_req.qpair->reserved_req = NULL;
 
 	nvme_free_request(&match_req);
 	req = STAILQ_FIRST(&match_req.qpair->free_req);