diff --git a/vhost_user_backend/src/lib.rs b/vhost_user_backend/src/lib.rs
index 8d3d0251f..8a92435e2 100644
--- a/vhost_user_backend/src/lib.rs
+++ b/vhost_user_backend/src/lib.rs
@@ -477,9 +477,7 @@ impl<S: VhostUserBackend> VhostUserSlaveReqHandler for VhostUserHandler<S> {
     }
 
     fn set_features(&mut self, features: u64) -> VhostUserResult<()> {
-        if !self.owned {
-            return Err(VhostUserError::InvalidOperation);
-        } else if (features & !self.backend.read().unwrap().features()) != 0 {
+        if (features & !self.backend.read().unwrap().features()) != 0 {
             return Err(VhostUserError::InvalidParam);
         }