diff --git a/tests/nvme/033 b/tests/nvme/033
index 5e051753..d0581c22 100755
--- a/tests/nvme/033
+++ b/tests/nvme/033
@@ -62,8 +62,11 @@ test_device() {
 	_nvmet_passthru_target_setup
 
 	nsdev=$(_nvmet_passthru_target_connect)
-
-	compare_dev_info "${nsdev}"
+	if [[ -z "$nsdev" ]]; then
+		echo "FAIL: Failed to find passthru target namespace"
+	else
+		compare_dev_info "${nsdev}"
+	fi
 
 	_nvme_disconnect_subsys
 	_nvmet_passthru_target_cleanup
diff --git a/tests/nvme/034 b/tests/nvme/034
index 154fc911..a4c5e97a 100755
--- a/tests/nvme/034
+++ b/tests/nvme/034
@@ -27,13 +27,15 @@ test_device() {
 
 	_setup_nvmet
 
-	local ctrldev
 	local nsdev
 
 	_nvmet_passthru_target_setup
 	nsdev=$(_nvmet_passthru_target_connect)
-
-	_run_fio_verify_io --size="${NVME_IMG_SIZE}" --filename="${nsdev}"
+	if [[ -z "$nsdev" ]]; then
+		echo "FAIL: Failed to find passthru target namespace"
+	else
+		_run_fio_verify_io --size="${NVME_IMG_SIZE}" --filename="${nsdev}"
+	fi
 
 	_nvme_disconnect_subsys
 	_nvmet_passthru_target_cleanup
diff --git a/tests/nvme/035 b/tests/nvme/035
index ff217d67..9f84ced5 100755
--- a/tests/nvme/035
+++ b/tests/nvme/035
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ test_device() {
 
 	_setup_nvmet
 
-	local ctrldev
 	local nsdev
 
 	_nvmet_passthru_target_setup
 	nsdev=$(_nvmet_passthru_target_connect)
-
-	if ! _xfs_run_fio_verify_io "${nsdev}" "${NVME_IMG_SIZE}"; then
+	if [[ -z "$nsdev" ]]; then
+		echo "FAIL: Failed to find passthru target namespace"
+	elif ! _xfs_run_fio_verify_io "${nsdev}" "${NVME_IMG_SIZE}"; then
 		echo "FAIL: fio verify failed"
 	fi
 
diff --git a/tests/nvme/036 b/tests/nvme/036
index 442ffe71..11cd5c19 100755
--- a/tests/nvme/036
+++ b/tests/nvme/036
@@ -27,14 +27,19 @@ test_device() {
 	_setup_nvmet
 
 	local ctrldev
+	local nsdev
 
 	_nvmet_passthru_target_setup
 	nsdev=$(_nvmet_passthru_target_connect)
 
-	ctrldev=$(_find_nvme_dev "${def_subsysnqn}")
+	if [[ -z "$nsdev" ]]; then
+		echo "FAIL: Failed to find passthru target namespace"
+	else
+		ctrldev=$(_find_nvme_dev "${def_subsysnqn}")
 
-	if ! nvme reset "/dev/${ctrldev}" >> "$FULL" 2>&1; then
-		echo "ERROR: reset failed"
+		if ! nvme reset "/dev/${ctrldev}" >> "$FULL" 2>&1; then
+			echo "ERROR: reset failed"
+		fi
 	fi
 
 	_nvme_disconnect_subsys
diff --git a/tests/nvme/037 b/tests/nvme/037
index f7ddc2d8..33a68576 100755
--- a/tests/nvme/037
+++ b/tests/nvme/037
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ test_device() {
 
 	local subsys="blktests-subsystem-"
 	local iterations=10
-	local ctrldev
+	local nsdev
 
 	for ((i = 0; i < iterations; i++)); do
 		_nvmet_passthru_target_setup --subsysnqn "${subsys}${i}"
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ test_device() {
 		_nvme_disconnect_subsys \
 			--subsysnqn "${subsys}${i}" >>"${FULL}" 2>&1
 		_nvmet_passthru_target_cleanup --subsysnqn "${subsys}${i}"
+
+		if [[ -z "$nsdev" ]]; then
+			echo "FAIL: Failed to find passthru target namespace"
+			break
+		fi
 	done
 
 	echo "Test complete"
diff --git a/tests/nvme/rc b/tests/nvme/rc
index a877de37..671012ea 100644
--- a/tests/nvme/rc
+++ b/tests/nvme/rc
@@ -394,6 +394,8 @@ _nvmet_passthru_target_setup() {
 
 _nvmet_passthru_target_connect() {
 	local subsysnqn="$def_subsysnqn"
+	local timeout="5"
+	local count="0"
 
 	while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
 		case $1 in
@@ -414,7 +416,12 @@ _nvmet_passthru_target_connect() {
 	# The following tests can race with the creation
 	# of the device so ensure the block device exists
 	# before continuing
-	while [ ! -b "${nsdev}" ]; do sleep 1; done
+	while [ ! -b "${nsdev}" ]; do
+		sleep 1
+		if ((++count >= timeout)); then
+			return 1
+		fi
+	done
 
 	echo "${nsdev}"
 }