diff --git a/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c b/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c
--- a/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c
+++ b/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_ctrlr.c
@@ -1152,7 +1152,7 @@
 
 	TSENTER();
 
-	if (nvme_ctrlr_hw_reset(ctrlr) != 0) {
+	if (nvme_ctrlr_hw_reset(ctrlr) != 0 || ctrlr->fail_on_reset != 0) {
 		nvme_ctrlr_fail(ctrlr, true);
 		config_intrhook_disestablish(&ctrlr->config_hook);
 		return;
diff --git a/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_private.h b/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_private.h
--- a/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_private.h
+++ b/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_private.h
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@
 
 	uint32_t			is_resetting;
 	uint32_t			notification_sent;
+	u_int				fail_on_reset;
 
 	bool				is_failed;
 	bool				is_failed_admin;
diff --git a/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_sysctl.c b/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_sysctl.c
--- a/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_sysctl.c
+++ b/sys/dev/nvme/nvme_sysctl.c
@@ -426,6 +426,10 @@
 	    CTLFLAG_RD, &ctrlr->cap_hi, 0,
 	    "Hi 32-bits of capacities for the drive");
 
+	SYSCTL_ADD_UINT(ctrlr_ctx, ctrlr_list, OID_AUTO, "fail_on_reset",
+	    CTLFLAG_RD, &ctrlr->fail_on_reset, 0,
+	    "Pretend the next reset fails and fail the controller");
+
 	que_tree = SYSCTL_ADD_NODE(ctrlr_ctx, ctrlr_list, OID_AUTO, "adminq",
 	    CTLFLAG_RD | CTLFLAG_MPSAFE, NULL, "Admin Queue");