diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
index d74c01c98f19..336013139ef6 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
@@ -591,6 +591,11 @@ int nvmet_ns_enable(struct nvmet_ns *ns)
        if (ns->enabled)
                goto out_unlock;
 
+       if (!ns->device_path) {
+               ret = -EINVAL;
+               goto out_unlock;
+       }
+
        ret = nvmet_bdev_ns_enable(ns);
        if (ret == -ENOTBLK)
                ret = nvmet_file_ns_enable(ns);