diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/linux/mlx5_os.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/linux/mlx5_os.c
index ae82e1e5d87..fd104dabb25 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/linux/mlx5_os.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/linux/mlx5_os.c
@@ -2993,9 +2993,15 @@ mlx5_os_read_dev_stat(struct mlx5_priv *priv, const char *ctr_name,
 
 	if (priv->sh) {
 		if (priv->q_counters != NULL &&
-		    strcmp(ctr_name, "out_of_buffer") == 0)
+		    strcmp(ctr_name, "out_of_buffer") == 0) {
+			if (rte_eal_process_type() == RTE_PROC_SECONDARY) {
+				DRV_LOG(WARNING, "Devx out_of_buffer counter is not supported in the secondary process");
+				rte_errno = ENOTSUP;
+				return 1;
+			}
 			return mlx5_devx_cmd_queue_counter_query
 					(priv->q_counters, 0, (uint32_t *)stat);
+		}
 		MKSTR(path, "%s/ports/%d/hw_counters/%s",
 		      priv->sh->ibdev_path,
 		      priv->dev_port,