diff --git a/hw/virtio/vhost-user.c b/hw/virtio/vhost-user.c
index 03415b6c95..d256ce589b 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/vhost-user.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/vhost-user.c
@@ -1543,6 +1543,11 @@ static VhostUserHostNotifier *fetch_or_create_notifier(VhostUserState *u,
 
     n = g_ptr_array_index(u->notifiers, idx);
     if (!n) {
+        /*
+         * In case notification arrive out-of-order,
+         * make room for current index.
+         */
+        g_ptr_array_remove_index(u->notifiers, idx);
         n = g_new0(VhostUserHostNotifier, 1);
         n->idx = idx;
         g_ptr_array_insert(u->notifiers, idx, n);