diff --git a/net/vhost-vdpa.c b/net/vhost-vdpa.c
index 303447a68e..3421b552d2 100644
--- a/net/vhost-vdpa.c
+++ b/net/vhost-vdpa.c
@@ -157,6 +157,14 @@ static void vhost_vdpa_cleanup(NetClientState *nc)
     VhostVDPAState *s = DO_UPCAST(VhostVDPAState, nc, nc);
     struct vhost_dev *dev = &s->vhost_net->dev;
 
+    /*
+    * If a peer NIC is attached, do not cleanup anything.
+    * Cleanup will happen as a part of qemu_cleanup() -> net_cleanup()
+    * when the guest is shutting down.
+    */
+    if (nc->peer && nc->peer->info->type == NET_CLIENT_DRIVER_NIC) {
+        return;
+    }
     qemu_vfree(s->cvq_cmd_out_buffer);
     qemu_vfree(s->cvq_cmd_in_buffer);
     if (dev->vq_index + dev->nvqs == dev->vq_index_end) {