diff --git a/drivers/vhost/test.c b/drivers/vhost/test.c
index 84ed9ea81219..65dc8c71336d 100644
--- a/drivers/vhost/test.c
+++ b/drivers/vhost/test.c
@@ -287,6 +287,10 @@ static long vhost_test_set_backend(struct vhost_test *n, unsigned index, int fd)
 		r = -EFAULT;
 		goto err_vq;
 	}
+	if (enable && !vq->kick) {
+		r = -EINVAL;
+		goto err_vq;
+	}
 	if (!enable) {
 		vhost_poll_stop(&vq->poll);
 		backend = vhost_vq_get_backend(vq);