diff --git a/lib/bdev/virtio/bdev_virtio.c b/lib/bdev/virtio/bdev_virtio.c
index c6935b374..7581d09fc 100644
--- a/lib/bdev/virtio/bdev_virtio.c
+++ b/lib/bdev/virtio/bdev_virtio.c
@@ -153,6 +153,10 @@ struct bdev_virtio_io_channel {
 /** Module finish in progress */
 static bool g_bdev_virtio_finish = false;
 
+/* Features desired/implemented by this driver. */
+#define VIRTIO_SCSI_DEV_SUPPORTED_FEATURES		\
+	(1ULL << VIRTIO_SCSI_F_INOUT)
+
 static void virtio_scsi_dev_unregister_cb(void *io_device);
 static void virtio_scsi_dev_remove(struct virtio_scsi_dev *svdev);
 static int bdev_virtio_scsi_ch_create_cb(void *io_device, void *ctx_buf);
diff --git a/lib/bdev/virtio/rte_virtio/virtio.c b/lib/bdev/virtio/rte_virtio/virtio.c
index c4936fcdd..2a44ba40e 100644
--- a/lib/bdev/virtio/rte_virtio/virtio.c
+++ b/lib/bdev/virtio/rte_virtio/virtio.c
@@ -334,6 +334,8 @@ virtio_dev_restart(struct virtio_dev *dev, uint64_t req_features)
 {
 	int ret;
 
+	req_features |= (1ULL << VIRTIO_F_VERSION_1);
+
 	/* Reset the device although not necessary at startup */
 	virtio_dev_stop(dev);
 
diff --git a/lib/bdev/virtio/rte_virtio/virtio.h b/lib/bdev/virtio/rte_virtio/virtio.h
index 598ba180c..bd79080de 100644
--- a/lib/bdev/virtio/rte_virtio/virtio.h
+++ b/lib/bdev/virtio/rte_virtio/virtio.h
@@ -191,11 +191,6 @@ struct virtio_pci_ctx;
  */
 typedef int (*virtio_pci_create_cb)(struct virtio_pci_ctx *pci_ctx);
 
-/* Features desired/implemented by this driver. */
-#define VIRTIO_SCSI_DEV_SUPPORTED_FEATURES		\
-	(1ULL << VIRTIO_SCSI_F_INOUT		|	\
-	 1ULL << VIRTIO_F_VERSION_1)
-
 uint16_t virtio_recv_pkts(struct virtqueue *vq, void **io, uint32_t *len, uint16_t io_cnt);
 
 /**
@@ -266,7 +261,8 @@ int virtio_dev_construct(struct virtio_dev *vdev, const struct virtio_dev_ops *o
  * This call will also allocate virtqueues and renegotiate feature flags.
  *
  * \param vdev virtio device
- * \param req_features features this driver supports
+ * \param req_features features this driver supports. A VIRTIO_F_VERSION_1
+ * flag will be automatically appended, as legacy devices are not supported.
  */
 int virtio_dev_restart(struct virtio_dev *vdev, uint64_t req_features);