diff --git a/libnvme/src/nvme/ioctl.c b/libnvme/src/nvme/ioctl.c
index ea21520f65..0ad051a359 100644
--- a/libnvme/src/nvme/ioctl.c
+++ b/libnvme/src/nvme/ioctl.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ static int nvme_verify_chr(struct nvme_transport_handle *hdl)
 		return -errno;
 
 	if (!S_ISCHR(nvme_stat.st_mode))
-		return -ENOTBLK;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/nvme.c b/nvme.c
index 4331db36a1..ac59f3d465 100644
--- a/nvme.c
+++ b/nvme.c
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ static const char *namespace_desired = "desired namespace";
 static const char *namespace_id_desired = "identifier of desired namespace";
 static const char *namespace_id_optional = "optional namespace attached to controller";
 static const char *nssf = "NVMe Security Specific Field";
+static const char *only_char_dev = "Only character device is allowed";
 static const char *prinfo = "PI and check field";
 static const char *rae = "Retain an Asynchronous Event";
 static const char *raw_directive = "show directive in binary format";
@@ -5349,6 +5350,11 @@ static int subsystem_reset(int argc, char **argv, struct command *acmd, struct p
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 
+	if (!nvme_transport_handle_is_chardev(hdl)) {
+		nvme_show_error(only_char_dev);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	err = nvme_subsystem_reset(hdl);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		if (errno == ENOTTY)
@@ -5375,6 +5381,11 @@ static int reset(int argc, char **argv, struct command *acmd, struct plugin *plu
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 
+	if (!nvme_transport_handle_is_chardev(hdl)) {
+		nvme_show_error(only_char_dev);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	err = nvme_ctrl_reset(hdl);
 	if (err < 0)
 		nvme_show_error("Reset: %s", nvme_strerror(err));
@@ -5399,6 +5410,11 @@ static int ns_rescan(int argc, char **argv, struct command *acmd, struct plugin
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 
+	if (!nvme_transport_handle_is_chardev(hdl)) {
+		nvme_show_error(only_char_dev);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	err = validate_output_format(nvme_cfg.output_format, &flags);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		nvme_show_error("Invalid output format");
@@ -5740,7 +5756,7 @@ static int show_registers(int argc, char **argv, struct command *acmd, struct pl
 		return err;
 
 	if (nvme_transport_handle_is_blkdev(hdl)) {
-		nvme_show_error("Only character device is allowed");
+		nvme_show_error(only_char_dev);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
@@ -6017,7 +6033,7 @@ static int get_register(int argc, char **argv, struct command *acmd, struct plug
 		return err;
 
 	if (nvme_transport_handle_is_blkdev(hdl)) {
-		nvme_show_error("Only character device is allowed");
+		nvme_show_error(only_char_dev);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
@@ -6321,7 +6337,7 @@ static int set_register(int argc, char **argv, struct command *acmd, struct plug
 		return err;
 
 	if (nvme_transport_handle_is_blkdev(hdl)) {
-		nvme_show_error("Only character device is allowed");
+		nvme_show_error(only_char_dev);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}