diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c b/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c
index 94c875d752..d276db3a72 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c
@@ -140,6 +140,8 @@ static uint32_t set_allocation_state(sPAPRDRConnector *drc,
             DPRINTFN("finalizing device removal");
             drck->detach(drc, DEVICE(drc->dev), drc->detach_cb,
                          drc->detach_cb_opaque, NULL);
+        } else if (drc->allocation_state == SPAPR_DR_ALLOCATION_STATE_USABLE) {
+            drc->awaiting_allocation = false;
         }
     }
     return RTAS_OUT_SUCCESS;
@@ -373,6 +375,10 @@ static void attach(sPAPRDRConnector *drc, DeviceState *d, void *fdt,
     drc->signalled = (drc->type != SPAPR_DR_CONNECTOR_TYPE_PCI)
                      ? true : coldplug;
 
+    if (drc->type != SPAPR_DR_CONNECTOR_TYPE_PCI) {
+        drc->awaiting_allocation = true;
+    }
+
     object_property_add_link(OBJECT(drc), "device",
                              object_get_typename(OBJECT(drc->dev)),
                              (Object **)(&drc->dev),
@@ -421,6 +427,12 @@ static void detach(sPAPRDRConnector *drc, DeviceState *d,
         return;
     }
 
+    if (drc->awaiting_allocation) {
+        drc->awaiting_release = true;
+        DPRINTFN("awaiting allocation to complete before removal");
+        return;
+    }
+
     drc->indicator_state = SPAPR_DR_INDICATOR_STATE_INACTIVE;
 
     if (drc->detach_cb) {
diff --git a/include/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.h b/include/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.h
index fa21ba0444..08e8411463 100644
--- a/include/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.h
+++ b/include/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.h
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ typedef struct sPAPRDRConnector {
 
     bool awaiting_release;
     bool signalled;
+    bool awaiting_allocation;
 
     /* device pointer, via link property */
     DeviceState *dev;