diff --git a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c
index 418d73b1b487..3f40ff090f34 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c
@@ -211,8 +211,6 @@ void virtio_scsi_dataplane_start(VirtIOSCSI *s)
 
     s->dataplane_starting = true;
 
-    assert(!s->blocker);
-    error_setg(&s->blocker, "block device is in use by data plane");
     /* Set up guest notifier (irq) */
     rc = k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, vs->conf.num_queues + 2, true);
     if (rc != 0) {
@@ -279,8 +277,6 @@ void virtio_scsi_dataplane_stop(VirtIOSCSI *s)
     if (!s->dataplane_started || s->dataplane_stopping) {
         return;
     }
-    error_free(s->blocker);
-    s->blocker = NULL;
     s->dataplane_stopping = true;
     assert(s->ctx == iothread_get_aio_context(vs->conf.iothread));
 
diff --git a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c
index 8c437dd8a6a5..4db3b23ea3ec 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi.c
@@ -903,6 +903,8 @@ static void virtio_scsi_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
                     virtio_scsi_save, virtio_scsi_load, s);
     s->migration_state_notifier.notify = virtio_scsi_migration_state_changed;
     add_migration_state_change_notifier(&s->migration_state_notifier);
+
+    error_setg(&s->blocker, "block device is in use by data plane");
 }
 
 static void virtio_scsi_instance_init(Object *obj)
@@ -928,6 +930,8 @@ static void virtio_scsi_device_unrealize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     VirtIOSCSI *s = VIRTIO_SCSI(dev);
 
+    error_free(s->blocker);
+
     unregister_savevm(dev, "virtio-scsi", s);
     remove_migration_state_change_notifier(&s->migration_state_notifier);