diff --git a/pkg/spdk/engine.go b/pkg/spdk/engine.go
index f52b5ca9..3b281508 100644
--- a/pkg/spdk/engine.go
+++ b/pkg/spdk/engine.go
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func NewEngine(engineName, volumeName, frontend string, specSize uint64, engineU
 }
 
 func isNewEngine(e *Engine) bool {
-	return e.IP == ""
+	return e.IP == "" && e.TargetIP == "" && e.StandbyTargetPort == 0
 }
 
 func (e *Engine) checkInitiatorAndTargetCreationRequirements(podIP, initiatorIP, targetIP string) (bool, bool, error) {
@@ -214,7 +214,9 @@ func (e *Engine) Create(spdkClient *spdkclient.Client, replicaAddressMap map[str
 	}
 
 	if isNewEngine(e) {
-		e.IP = initiatorIP
+		if initiatorCreationRequired {
+			e.IP = initiatorIP
+		}
 		e.TargetIP = targetIP
 	}