diff --git a/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.c b/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.c
index fb793054c..de88cb856 100644
--- a/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.c
+++ b/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.c
@@ -225,12 +225,11 @@ raid_bdev_free_base_bdev_resource(struct raid_base_bdev_info *base_info)
 
 	assert(spdk_get_thread() == spdk_thread_get_app_thread());
 
-	if (base_info->bdev != NULL) {
+	if (base_info->is_configured) {
 		assert(base_info->desc);
 		assert(raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs_discovered);
 		raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs_discovered--;
-		spdk_bdev_module_release_bdev(base_info->bdev);
-		base_info->bdev = NULL;
+		base_info->is_configured = false;
 	}
 
 	if (base_info->app_thread_ch != NULL) {
@@ -238,6 +237,11 @@ raid_bdev_free_base_bdev_resource(struct raid_base_bdev_info *base_info)
 		base_info->app_thread_ch = NULL;
 	}
 
+	if (base_info->bdev != NULL) {
+		spdk_bdev_module_release_bdev(base_info->bdev);
+		base_info->bdev = NULL;
+	}
+
 	if (base_info->desc != NULL) {
 		spdk_bdev_close(base_info->desc);
 		base_info->desc = NULL;
@@ -1812,6 +1816,48 @@ raid_bdev_delete(struct raid_bdev *raid_bdev, raid_bdev_destruct_cb cb_fn, void
 	}
 }
 
+static void
+raid_bdev_configure_base_bdev_cont(struct raid_base_bdev_info *base_info)
+{
+	struct raid_bdev *raid_bdev = base_info->raid_bdev;
+	int rc;
+
+	base_info->is_configured = true;
+
+	raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs_discovered++;
+	assert(raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs_discovered <= raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs);
+
+	if (raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs_discovered == raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs) {
+		rc = raid_bdev_configure(raid_bdev);
+		if (rc != 0) {
+			SPDK_ERRLOG("Failed to configure raid bdev: %s\n", spdk_strerror(-rc));
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+static void
+raid_bdev_configure_base_bdev_load_sb_cb(const struct raid_bdev_superblock *sb, int status,
+		void *ctx)
+{
+	struct raid_base_bdev_info *base_info = ctx;
+
+	switch (status) {
+	case 0:
+		/* valid superblock found */
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("Existing raid superblock found on bdev %s\n", base_info->name);
+		raid_bdev_free_base_bdev_resource(base_info);
+		break;
+	case -EINVAL:
+		/* no valid superblock */
+		raid_bdev_configure_base_bdev_cont(base_info);
+		break;
+	default:
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("Failed to examine bdev %s: %s\n",
+			    base_info->name, spdk_strerror(-status));
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
 static int
 raid_bdev_configure_base_bdev(struct raid_base_bdev_info *base_info)
 {
@@ -1914,27 +1960,26 @@ raid_bdev_configure_base_bdev(struct raid_base_bdev_info *base_info)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	if (base_info->data_size == 0) {
-		base_info->data_size = bdev->blockcnt - base_info->data_offset;
-	} else if (base_info->data_offset + base_info->data_size > bdev->blockcnt) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("Data offset and size exceeds base bdev capacity %lu on bdev '%s'\n",
-			    bdev->blockcnt, base_info->name);
-		rc = -EINVAL;
-		goto out;
-	}
-
 	base_info->bdev = bdev;
 	base_info->desc = desc;
 	base_info->blockcnt = bdev->blockcnt;
 
-	raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs_discovered++;
-	assert(raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs_discovered <= raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs);
+	if (base_info->data_size == 0) {
+		base_info->data_size = bdev->blockcnt - base_info->data_offset;
 
-	if (raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs_discovered == raid_bdev->num_base_bdevs) {
-		rc = raid_bdev_configure(raid_bdev);
-		if (rc != 0) {
-			SPDK_ERRLOG("Failed to configure raid bdev: %s\n", spdk_strerror(-rc));
+		/* check for existing superblock when using a new bdev */
+		rc = raid_bdev_load_base_bdev_superblock(desc, base_info->app_thread_ch,
+				raid_bdev_configure_base_bdev_load_sb_cb, base_info);
+		if (rc) {
+			SPDK_ERRLOG("Failed to read bdev %s superblock: %s\n",
+				    bdev->name, spdk_strerror(-rc));
 		}
+	} else if (base_info->data_offset + base_info->data_size > bdev->blockcnt) {
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("Data offset and size exceeds base bdev capacity %lu on bdev '%s'\n",
+			    bdev->blockcnt, base_info->name);
+		rc = -EINVAL;
+	} else {
+		raid_bdev_configure_base_bdev_cont(base_info);
 	}
 out:
 	if (rc != 0) {
diff --git a/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.h b/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.h
index 5067fe5aa..a98be2485 100644
--- a/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.h
+++ b/module/bdev/raid/bdev_raid.h
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ struct raid_base_bdev_info {
 
 	/* io channel for the app thread */
 	struct spdk_io_channel	*app_thread_ch;
+
+	/* Set to true when base bdev has completed the configuration process */
+	bool			is_configured;
 };
 
 /*
diff --git a/test/bdev/bdev_raid.sh b/test/bdev/bdev_raid.sh
index 51cb5e445..8782013e6 100755
--- a/test/bdev/bdev_raid.sh
+++ b/test/bdev/bdev_raid.sh
@@ -378,6 +378,20 @@ function raid_superblock_test() {
 		return 1
 	fi
 
+	# Try to create new RAID bdev from malloc bdevs
+	# Should not reach online state due to superblock still present on base bdevs
+	$rpc_py bdev_raid_create $strip_size_create_arg -r $raid_level -b "${base_bdevs_malloc[*]}" -n $raid_bdev_name
+	if ! verify_raid_bdev_state $raid_bdev_name "configuring" $raid_level $strip_size; then
+		return 1
+	fi
+
+	# Stop the RAID bdev
+	$rpc_py bdev_raid_delete $raid_bdev_name
+	raid_bdev=$($rpc_py bdev_raid_get_bdevs all | jq -r '.[]')
+	if [ -n "$raid_bdev" ]; then
+		return 1
+	fi
+
 	# Re-add first base bdev
 	$rpc_py bdev_passthru_create -b ${base_bdevs_malloc[0]} -p ${base_bdevs_pt[0]} -u ${base_bdevs_pt_uuid[0]}