diff --git a/virtio-devices/src/transport/mod.rs b/virtio-devices/src/transport/mod.rs
index 3a43b73cf..fae6f166b 100644
--- a/virtio-devices/src/transport/mod.rs
+++ b/virtio-devices/src/transport/mod.rs
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@ pub use pci_common_config::{VirtioPciCommonConfig, VIRTIO_PCI_COMMON_CONFIG_ID};
 pub use pci_device::{VirtioPciDevice, VirtioPciDeviceActivator, VirtioPciDeviceError};
 
 pub trait VirtioTransport {
-    fn ioeventfds(&self, base_addr: u64) -> Vec<(&EventFd, u64)>;
+    fn ioeventfds(&self, base_addr: u64) -> impl Iterator<Item = (&EventFd, u64)>;
 }
diff --git a/virtio-devices/src/transport/pci_device.rs b/virtio-devices/src/transport/pci_device.rs
index 36f47c94d..c06b5cb1b 100644
--- a/virtio-devices/src/transport/pci_device.rs
+++ b/virtio-devices/src/transport/pci_device.rs
@@ -830,18 +830,14 @@ impl VirtioPciDevice {
 }
 
 impl VirtioTransport for VirtioPciDevice {
-    fn ioeventfds(&self, base_addr: u64) -> Vec<(&EventFd, u64)> {
+    fn ioeventfds(&self, base_addr: u64) -> impl Iterator<Item = (&EventFd, u64)> {
         let notify_base = base_addr + NOTIFICATION_BAR_OFFSET;
-        self.queue_evts()
-            .iter()
-            .enumerate()
-            .map(|(i, event)| {
-                (
-                    event,
-                    notify_base + i as u64 * u64::from(NOTIFY_OFF_MULTIPLIER),
-                )
-            })
-            .collect()
+        self.queue_evts().iter().enumerate().map(move |(i, event)| {
+            (
+                event,
+                notify_base + i as u64 * u64::from(NOTIFY_OFF_MULTIPLIER),
+            )
+        })
     }
 }