diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost.h b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost.h
index 19040dfdc2..c896f0836d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost.h
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost.h
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ struct virtio_user_backend_ops {
 	int (*set_vring_call)(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_file *file);
 	int (*set_vring_kick)(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_file *file);
 	int (*set_vring_addr)(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_addr *addr);
+	int (*get_status)(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t *status);
+	int (*set_status)(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t status);
 	int (*send_request)(struct virtio_user_dev *dev,
 			    enum vhost_user_request req,
 			    void *arg);
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_kernel.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_kernel.c
index 48eeb77aec..4de4b669d2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_kernel.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_kernel.c
@@ -316,6 +316,18 @@ vhost_kernel_set_vring_addr(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_addr
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int
+vhost_kernel_get_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev __rte_unused, uint8_t *status __rte_unused)
+{
+	return -ENOTSUP;
+}
+
+static int
+vhost_kernel_set_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev __rte_unused, uint8_t status __rte_unused)
+{
+	return -ENOTSUP;
+}
+
 static uint64_t vhost_req_user_to_kernel[] = {
 	[VHOST_USER_RESET_OWNER] = VHOST_RESET_OWNER,
 };
@@ -487,6 +499,8 @@ struct virtio_user_backend_ops virtio_ops_kernel = {
 	.set_vring_call = vhost_kernel_set_vring_call,
 	.set_vring_kick = vhost_kernel_set_vring_kick,
 	.set_vring_addr = vhost_kernel_set_vring_addr,
+	.get_status = vhost_kernel_get_status,
+	.set_status = vhost_kernel_set_status,
 	.send_request = vhost_kernel_send_request,
 	.enable_qp = vhost_kernel_enable_queue_pair
 };
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_user.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_user.c
index 9ff49d2b1d..91ecb50342 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_user.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_user.c
@@ -559,13 +559,100 @@ vhost_user_set_vring_addr(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_addr *
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int
+vhost_user_get_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t *status)
+{
+	int ret;
+	struct vhost_user_msg msg = {
+		.request = VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS,
+		.flags = VHOST_USER_VERSION,
+	};
+
+	/*
+	 * If features have not been negotiated, we don't know if the backend
+	 * supports protocol features
+	 */
+	if (!(dev->status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_STATUS_FEATURES_OK))
+		return -ENOTSUP;
+
+	/* Status protocol feature requires protocol features support */
+	if (!(dev->device_features & (1ULL << VHOST_USER_F_PROTOCOL_FEATURES)))
+		return -ENOTSUP;
+
+	if (!(dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_USER_PROTOCOL_F_STATUS)))
+		return -ENOTSUP;
+
+	ret = vhost_user_write(dev->vhostfd, &msg, NULL, 0);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to send request");
+		goto err;
+	}
+
+	ret = vhost_user_read(dev->vhostfd, &msg);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to recv request");
+		goto err;
+	}
+
+	if (msg.request != VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Unexpected request type (%d)", msg.request);
+		goto err;
+	}
+
+	if (msg.size != sizeof(msg.payload.u64)) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Unexpected payload size (%u)", msg.size);
+		goto err;
+	}
+
+	*status = (uint8_t)msg.payload.u64;
+
+	return 0;
+err:
+	PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to get device status");
+	return -1;
+}
+
+static int
+vhost_user_set_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t status)
+{
+	int ret;
+	struct vhost_user_msg msg = {
+		.request = VHOST_USER_SET_STATUS,
+		.flags = VHOST_USER_VERSION,
+		.size = sizeof(msg.payload.u64),
+		.payload.u64 = status,
+	};
+
+	/*
+	 * If features have not been negotiated, we don't know if the backend
+	 * supports protocol features
+	 */
+	if (!(dev->status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_STATUS_FEATURES_OK))
+		return -ENOTSUP;
+
+	/* Status protocol feature requires protocol features support */
+	if (!(dev->device_features & (1ULL << VHOST_USER_F_PROTOCOL_FEATURES)))
+		return -ENOTSUP;
+
+	if (!(dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_USER_PROTOCOL_F_STATUS)))
+		return -ENOTSUP;
+
+	if (dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_USER_PROTOCOL_F_REPLY_ACK))
+		msg.flags |= VHOST_USER_NEED_REPLY_MASK;
+
+	ret = vhost_user_write(dev->vhostfd, &msg, NULL, 0);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to send get status request");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return vhost_user_check_reply_ack(dev, &msg);
+}
 
 static struct vhost_user_msg m;
 
 const char * const vhost_msg_strings[] = {
 	[VHOST_USER_RESET_OWNER] = "VHOST_RESET_OWNER",
-	[VHOST_USER_SET_STATUS] = "VHOST_SET_STATUS",
-	[VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS] = "VHOST_GET_STATUS",
 };
 
 static int
@@ -576,7 +663,6 @@ vhost_user_sock(struct virtio_user_dev *dev,
 	struct vhost_user_msg msg;
 	struct vhost_vring_file *file = 0;
 	int need_reply = 0;
-	int has_reply_ack = 0;
 	int fds[VHOST_MEMORY_MAX_NREGIONS];
 	int fd_num = 0;
 	int vhostfd = dev->vhostfd;
@@ -588,31 +674,11 @@ vhost_user_sock(struct virtio_user_dev *dev,
 	if (dev->is_server && vhostfd < 0)
 		return -1;
 
-	if (dev->protocol_features & (1ULL << VHOST_USER_PROTOCOL_F_REPLY_ACK))
-		has_reply_ack = 1;
-
 	msg.request = req;
 	msg.flags = VHOST_USER_VERSION;
 	msg.size = 0;
 
 	switch (req) {
-	case VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS:
-		if (!(dev->status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_STATUS_FEATURES_OK) ||
-		    (!(dev->protocol_features &
-				(1ULL << VHOST_USER_PROTOCOL_F_STATUS))))
-			return -ENOTSUP;
-		need_reply = 1;
-		break;
-
-	case VHOST_USER_SET_STATUS:
-		if (!(dev->status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_STATUS_FEATURES_OK) ||
-		    (!(dev->protocol_features &
-				(1ULL << VHOST_USER_PROTOCOL_F_STATUS))))
-			return -ENOTSUP;
-
-		if (has_reply_ack)
-			msg.flags |= VHOST_USER_NEED_REPLY_MASK;
-		/* Fallthrough */
 	case VHOST_USER_SET_LOG_BASE:
 		msg.payload.u64 = *((__u64 *)arg);
 		msg.size = sizeof(m.payload.u64);
@@ -665,13 +731,6 @@ vhost_user_sock(struct virtio_user_dev *dev,
 		}
 
 		switch (req) {
-		case VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS:
-			if (msg.size != sizeof(m.payload.u64)) {
-				PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Received bad msg size");
-				return -1;
-			}
-			*((__u64 *)arg) = msg.payload.u64;
-			break;
 		default:
 			/* Reply-ack handling */
 			if (msg.size != sizeof(m.payload.u64)) {
@@ -804,6 +863,8 @@ struct virtio_user_backend_ops virtio_ops_user = {
 	.set_vring_call = vhost_user_set_vring_call,
 	.set_vring_kick = vhost_user_set_vring_kick,
 	.set_vring_addr = vhost_user_set_vring_addr,
+	.get_status = vhost_user_get_status,
+	.set_status = vhost_user_set_status,
 	.send_request = vhost_user_sock,
 	.enable_qp = vhost_user_enable_queue_pair
 };
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_vdpa.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_vdpa.c
index 1ec6bb26f2..8ebc679f1b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_vdpa.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/vhost_vdpa.c
@@ -38,8 +38,6 @@
 
 static uint64_t vhost_req_user_to_vdpa[] = {
 	[VHOST_USER_RESET_OWNER] = VHOST_RESET_OWNER,
-	[VHOST_USER_SET_STATUS] = VHOST_VDPA_SET_STATUS,
-	[VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS] = VHOST_VDPA_GET_STATUS,
 };
 
 /* no alignment requirement */
@@ -379,6 +377,18 @@ vhost_vdpa_set_vring_addr(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, struct vhost_vring_addr *
 	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_SET_VRING_ADDR, addr);
 }
 
+static int
+vhost_vdpa_get_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t *status)
+{
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_GET_STATUS, status);
+}
+
+static int
+vhost_vdpa_set_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t status)
+{
+	return vhost_vdpa_ioctl(dev->vhostfd, VHOST_VDPA_SET_STATUS, &status);
+}
+
 /* with below features, vhost vdpa does not need to do the checksum and TSO,
  * these info will be passed to virtio_user through virtio net header.
  */
@@ -490,6 +500,8 @@ struct virtio_user_backend_ops virtio_ops_vdpa = {
 	.set_vring_call = vhost_vdpa_set_vring_call,
 	.set_vring_kick = vhost_vdpa_set_vring_kick,
 	.set_vring_addr = vhost_vdpa_set_vring_addr,
+	.get_status = vhost_vdpa_get_status,
+	.set_status = vhost_vdpa_set_status,
 	.send_request = vhost_vdpa_send_request,
 	.enable_qp = vhost_vdpa_enable_queue_pair,
 	.dma_map = vhost_vdpa_dma_map_batch,
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/virtio_user_dev.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/virtio_user_dev.c
index 7e365d0570..33a25f4684 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/virtio_user_dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_user/virtio_user_dev.c
@@ -814,21 +814,12 @@ int
 virtio_user_dev_set_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t status)
 {
 	int ret;
-	uint64_t arg = status;
 
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&dev->mutex);
 	dev->status = status;
-	if (dev->backend_type == VIRTIO_USER_BACKEND_VHOST_USER)
-		ret = dev->ops->send_request(dev,
-				VHOST_USER_SET_STATUS, &arg);
-	else if (dev->backend_type == VIRTIO_USER_BACKEND_VHOST_VDPA)
-		ret = dev->ops->send_request(dev,
-				VHOST_USER_SET_STATUS, &status);
-	else
-		ret = -ENOTSUP;
-
+	ret = dev->ops->set_status(dev, status);
 	if (ret && ret != -ENOTSUP) {
-		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "VHOST_USER_SET_STATUS failed (%d): %s", ret,
+		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "Virtio-user set status failed (%d): %s", ret,
 			     strerror(errno));
 	}
 
@@ -839,29 +830,13 @@ virtio_user_dev_set_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev, uint8_t status)
 int
 virtio_user_dev_update_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 {
-	uint64_t ret;
+	int ret;
 	uint8_t status;
-	int err;
 
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&dev->mutex);
-	if (dev->backend_type == VIRTIO_USER_BACKEND_VHOST_USER) {
-		err = dev->ops->send_request(dev, VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS, &ret);
-		if (!err && ret > UINT8_MAX) {
-			PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "Invalid VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS "
-					"response 0x%" PRIx64 "\n", ret);
-			err = -1;
-			goto error;
-		}
 
-		status = ret;
-	} else if (dev->backend_type == VIRTIO_USER_BACKEND_VHOST_VDPA) {
-		err = dev->ops->send_request(dev, VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS,
-				&status);
-	} else {
-		err = -ENOTSUP;
-	}
-
-	if (!err) {
+	ret = dev->ops->get_status(dev, &status);
+	if (!ret) {
 		dev->status = status;
 		PMD_INIT_LOG(DEBUG, "Updated Device Status(0x%08x):\n"
 			"\t-RESET: %u\n"
@@ -879,12 +854,11 @@ virtio_user_dev_update_status(struct virtio_user_dev *dev)
 			!!(dev->status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_STATUS_FEATURES_OK),
 			!!(dev->status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_STATUS_DEV_NEED_RESET),
 			!!(dev->status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_STATUS_FAILED));
-	} else if (err != -ENOTSUP) {
-		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "VHOST_USER_GET_STATUS failed (%d): %s", err,
+	} else if (ret != -ENOTSUP) {
+		PMD_INIT_LOG(ERR, "Virtio-user get status failed (%d): %s", ret,
 			     strerror(errno));
 	}
 
-error:
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&dev->mutex);
-	return err;
+	return ret;
 }
