diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 994fdf6a9..69f5f4355 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ Post-v2.17.0
    - DPDK:
      * OVS validated with DPDK 21.11.1.  It is recommended to use this version
        until further releases.
+     * Delay creating or reusing a mempool for vhost ports until the VM
+       is started. A failure to create a mempool will now be logged only
+       when the VM is started.
    - Userspace datapath:
      * 'dpif-netdev/subtable-lookup-prio-get' appctl command renamed to
        'dpif-netdev/subtable-lookup-info-get' to better reflect its purpose.
diff --git a/lib/netdev-dpdk.c b/lib/netdev-dpdk.c
index f9535bfb4..081900576 100644
--- a/lib/netdev-dpdk.c
+++ b/lib/netdev-dpdk.c
@@ -3926,7 +3926,8 @@ new_device(int vid)
 
             if (dev->requested_n_txq < qp_num
                 || dev->requested_n_rxq < qp_num
-                || dev->requested_socket_id != newnode) {
+                || dev->requested_socket_id != newnode
+                || dev->dpdk_mp == NULL) {
                 dev->requested_socket_id = newnode;
                 dev->requested_n_rxq = qp_num;
                 dev->requested_n_txq = qp_num;
@@ -4976,7 +4977,6 @@ dpdk_vhost_reconfigure_helper(struct netdev_dpdk *dev)
 {
     dev->up.n_txq = dev->requested_n_txq;
     dev->up.n_rxq = dev->requested_n_rxq;
-    int err;
 
     /* Always keep RX queue 0 enabled for implementations that won't
      * report vring states. */
@@ -4994,14 +4994,17 @@ dpdk_vhost_reconfigure_helper(struct netdev_dpdk *dev)
 
     netdev_dpdk_remap_txqs(dev);
 
-    err = netdev_dpdk_mempool_configure(dev);
-    if (!err) {
-        /* A new mempool was created or re-used. */
-        netdev_change_seq_changed(&dev->up);
-    } else if (err != EEXIST) {
-        return err;
-    }
     if (netdev_dpdk_get_vid(dev) >= 0) {
+        int err;
+
+        err = netdev_dpdk_mempool_configure(dev);
+        if (!err) {
+            /* A new mempool was created or re-used. */
+            netdev_change_seq_changed(&dev->up);
+        } else if (err != EEXIST) {
+            return err;
+        }
+
         if (dev->vhost_reconfigured == false) {
             dev->vhost_reconfigured = true;
             /* Carrier status may need updating. */