diff --git a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c
index 2c83a0ab1f..4ad8793406 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/virtio-scsi-dataplane.c
@@ -52,12 +52,14 @@ void virtio_scsi_dataplane_setup(VirtIOSCSI *s, Error **errp)
 static bool virtio_scsi_data_plane_handle_cmd(VirtIODevice *vdev,
                                               VirtQueue *vq)
 {
-    bool progress;
+    bool progress = false;
     VirtIOSCSI *s = VIRTIO_SCSI(vdev);
 
     virtio_scsi_acquire(s);
-    assert(s->ctx && s->dataplane_started);
-    progress = virtio_scsi_handle_cmd_vq(s, vq);
+    if (!s->dataplane_fenced) {
+        assert(s->ctx && s->dataplane_started);
+        progress = virtio_scsi_handle_cmd_vq(s, vq);
+    }
     virtio_scsi_release(s);
     return progress;
 }
@@ -65,12 +67,14 @@ static bool virtio_scsi_data_plane_handle_cmd(VirtIODevice *vdev,
 static bool virtio_scsi_data_plane_handle_ctrl(VirtIODevice *vdev,
                                                VirtQueue *vq)
 {
-    bool progress;
+    bool progress = false;
     VirtIOSCSI *s = VIRTIO_SCSI(vdev);
 
     virtio_scsi_acquire(s);
-    assert(s->ctx && s->dataplane_started);
-    progress = virtio_scsi_handle_ctrl_vq(s, vq);
+    if (!s->dataplane_fenced) {
+        assert(s->ctx && s->dataplane_started);
+        progress = virtio_scsi_handle_ctrl_vq(s, vq);
+    }
     virtio_scsi_release(s);
     return progress;
 }
@@ -78,12 +82,14 @@ static bool virtio_scsi_data_plane_handle_ctrl(VirtIODevice *vdev,
 static bool virtio_scsi_data_plane_handle_event(VirtIODevice *vdev,
                                                 VirtQueue *vq)
 {
-    bool progress;
+    bool progress = false;
     VirtIOSCSI *s = VIRTIO_SCSI(vdev);
 
     virtio_scsi_acquire(s);
-    assert(s->ctx && s->dataplane_started);
-    progress = virtio_scsi_handle_event_vq(s, vq);
+    if (!s->dataplane_fenced) {
+        assert(s->ctx && s->dataplane_started);
+        progress = virtio_scsi_handle_event_vq(s, vq);
+    }
     virtio_scsi_release(s);
     return progress;
 }