diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/loop.c b/drivers/nvme/target/loop.c
index 440e1544033b21533eb964b3c48fc96c508ba3bf..eb1094254c8231aa12681545b9c58826fda1a670 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/loop.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/loop.c
@@ -384,6 +384,8 @@ static int nvme_loop_configure_admin_queue(struct nvme_loop_ctrl *ctrl)
 		error = PTR_ERR(ctrl->ctrl.admin_q);
 		goto out_cleanup_fabrics_q;
 	}
+	/* reset stopped state for the fresh admin queue */
+	clear_bit(NVME_CTRL_ADMIN_Q_STOPPED, &ctrl->ctrl.flags);
 
 	error = nvmf_connect_admin_queue(&ctrl->ctrl);
 	if (error)