diff --git a/lib/vhost/vhost_scsi.c b/lib/vhost/vhost_scsi.c
index 925717318..963fb3e6a 100644
--- a/lib/vhost/vhost_scsi.c
+++ b/lib/vhost/vhost_scsi.c
@@ -750,7 +750,8 @@ spdk_vhost_scsi_lun_hotremove(const struct spdk_scsi_lun *lun, void *arg)
 
 	assert(lun != NULL);
 	assert(svdev != NULL);
-	if (!spdk_vhost_dev_has_feature(&svdev->vdev, VIRTIO_SCSI_F_HOTPLUG)) {
+	if (svdev->vdev.lcore != -1 &&
+	    !spdk_vhost_dev_has_feature(&svdev->vdev, VIRTIO_SCSI_F_HOTPLUG)) {
 		SPDK_WARNLOG("%s: hotremove is not enabled for this controller.\n", svdev->vdev.name);
 		return;
 	}