diff --git a/examples/nvme/perf/perf.c b/examples/nvme/perf/perf.c
index 972d148f4..4a74d0478 100644
--- a/examples/nvme/perf/perf.c
+++ b/examples/nvme/perf/perf.c
@@ -567,6 +567,7 @@ nvme_init_ns_worker_ctx(struct ns_worker_ctx *ns_ctx)
 	if (opts.io_queue_requests < entry->num_io_requests) {
 		opts.io_queue_requests = entry->num_io_requests;
 	}
+	opts.delay_pcie_doorbell = true;
 
 	ns_ctx->u.nvme.qpair = spdk_nvme_ctrlr_alloc_io_qpair(entry->u.nvme.ctrlr, &opts,
 			       sizeof(opts));