diff --git a/docs/system/devices/nvme.rst b/docs/system/devices/nvme.rst
index 6b3bee5e5d..f19072f1bc 100644
--- a/docs/system/devices/nvme.rst
+++ b/docs/system/devices/nvme.rst
@@ -103,12 +103,12 @@ Parameters:
 
 ``auto-ns-path=<path to nvme storage location>``
   If specified indicates a support for dynamic management of nvme namespaces
-  by means of nvme create-ns command. This path points
+  by means of nvme create-ns and nvme delete-ns commands. This path points
   to the storage area for backend images must exist. Additionally it requires
   that parameter `ns-subsys` must be specified whereas parameter `drive`
   must not. The legacy namespace backend is disabled, instead, a pair of
   files 'nvme_<ctrl SN>_ns_<NS-ID>.cfg' and 'nvme_<ctrl SN>_ns_<NS-ID>.img'
-  will refer to respective namespaces. The create-ns, attach-ns
+  will refer to respective namespaces. The create-ns, delete-ns, attach-ns
   and detach-ns commands, issued at the guest side, will make changes to
   those files accordingly.
   For each namespace exists an image file in raw format and a config file
@@ -140,8 +140,9 @@ Please note that ``nvme-ns`` device is not required to support of dynamic
 namespaces management feature. It is not prohibited to assign a such device to
 ``nvme`` device specified to support dynamic namespace management if one has
 an use case to do so, however, it will only coexist and be out of the scope of
-Namespaces Management. NsIds will be consistently managed, creation (create-ns)
-of a namespace will not allocate the NsId already being taken. If ``nvme-ns``
+Namespaces Management. Deletion (delete-ns) will render an error for this
+namespace. NsIds will be consistently managed, creation (create-ns) of
+a namespace will not allocate the NsId already being taken. If ``nvme-ns``
 device conflicts with previously created one by create-ns (the same NsId),
 it will break QEMU's start up.
 More than one of NVMe controllers associated with NVMe subsystem are supported.
diff --git a/hw/nvme/ctrl.c b/hw/nvme/ctrl.c
index 6155c2013e..6b93911f01 100644
--- a/hw/nvme/ctrl.c
+++ b/hw/nvme/ctrl.c
@@ -144,12 +144,12 @@
  *
  * - `auto-ns-path`
  *   If specified indicates a support for dynamic management of nvme namespaces
- *   by means of nvme create-ns command. This path pointing
+ *   by means of nvme create-ns and nvme delete-ns commands. This path pointing
  *   to a storage area for backend images must exist. Additionally it requires
  *   that parameter `ns-subsys` must be specified whereas parameter `drive`
  *   must not. The legacy namespace backend is disabled, instead, a pair of
  *   files 'nvme_<ctrl SN>_ns_<NS-ID>.cfg' and 'nvme_<ctrl SN>_ns_<NS-ID>.img'
- *   will refer to respective namespaces. The create-ns, attach-ns
+ *   will refer to respective namespaces. The create-ns, delete-ns, attach-ns
  *   and detach-ns commands, issued at the guest side, will make changes to
  *   those files accordingly.
  *   For each namespace exists an image file in raw format and a config file
@@ -5660,6 +5660,23 @@ static NvmeNamespace *nvme_ns_mgmt_create(NvmeCtrl *n, uint32_t nsid, NvmeIdNsMg
     return ns;
 }
 
+static void nvme_ns_mgmt_delete(NvmeCtrl *n, uint32_t nsid, Error **errp)
+{
+    Error *local_err = NULL;
+
+    if (!n->params.ns_directory) {
+        error_setg(&local_err, "delete-ns not supported if 'auto-ns-path' is not specified");
+    } else if (n->namespace.blkconf.blk) {
+        error_setg(&local_err, "delete-ns not supported if 'drive' is specified");
+    } else {
+        nvme_ns_delete(n, nsid, &local_err);
+    }
+
+    if (local_err) {
+        error_propagate(errp, local_err);
+    }
+}
+
 static uint16_t nvme_ns_mgmt(NvmeCtrl *n, NvmeRequest *req)
 {
     NvmeCtrl *n_p = NULL;     /* primary controller */
@@ -5673,6 +5690,9 @@ static uint16_t nvme_ns_mgmt(NvmeCtrl *n, NvmeRequest *req)
     uint8_t sel = dw10 & 0xf;
     uint8_t csi = (dw11 >> 24) & 0xf;
     uint16_t i;
+    uint16_t first = nsid;
+    uint16_t last = nsid;;
+    uint64_t image_size;
     uint16_t ret;
     Error *local_err = NULL;
 
@@ -5739,16 +5759,15 @@ static uint16_t nvme_ns_mgmt(NvmeCtrl *n, NvmeRequest *req)
                 return NVME_INVALID_FIELD | NVME_DNR;
             }
 
+            /* ns->size is the real image size after creation */
             if (nvme_cfg_update(n, ns->size, NVME_NS_ALLOC_CHK)) {
-                /* place for delete-ns */
-                error_setg(&local_err, "Insufficient capacity, an orphaned ns[%"PRIu32"] will be left behind", nsid);
+                nvme_ns_mgmt_delete(n, nsid, NULL);
                 return NVME_NS_INSUFFICIENT_CAPAC | NVME_DNR;
             }
             (void)nvme_cfg_update(n, ns->size, NVME_NS_ALLOC);
             if (nvme_cfg_save(n)) {
                 (void)nvme_cfg_update(n, ns->size, NVME_NS_DEALLOC);
-                /* place for delete-ns */
-                error_setg(&local_err, "Cannot save conf file, an orphaned ns[%"PRIu32"] will be left behind", nsid);
+                nvme_ns_mgmt_delete(n, nsid, NULL);
                 return NVME_INVALID_FIELD | NVME_DNR;
             }
             req->cqe.result = cpu_to_le32(nsid);
@@ -5759,6 +5778,56 @@ static uint16_t nvme_ns_mgmt(NvmeCtrl *n, NvmeRequest *req)
             return NVME_INVALID_FIELD | NVME_DNR;
 	    }
         break;
+    case NVME_NS_MANAGEMENT_DELETE:
+        switch (csi) {
+        case NVME_CSI_NVM:
+            if (!nsid) {
+                return NVME_INVALID_FIELD | NVME_DNR;
+            }
+
+            if (nsid == NVME_NSID_BROADCAST) {
+                first = 1;
+                last = NVME_MAX_NAMESPACES;
+            }
+
+            for (i = first; i <= last; i++) {
+                ns = nvme_subsys_ns(n->subsys, (uint32_t)i);
+                if (n->params.ns_directory && ns && ns_auto_check(n, ns, (uint32_t)i)) {
+                    error_setg(&local_err, "ns[%"PRIu32"] cannot be deleted, configured via '-device nvme-ns...'", i);
+                    error_report_err(local_err);
+                    if (first != last) {
+                        local_err = NULL;       /* we are skipping */
+                    }
+                } else if (ns) {
+                    image_size = ns->size;
+                    nvme_ns_mgmt_delete(n, (uint16_t)i, &local_err);
+                    if (local_err) {
+                        goto fail;
+                    }
+                    (void)nvme_cfg_update(n, image_size, NVME_NS_DEALLOC);
+                    if (nvme_cfg_save(n)) {
+                        error_setg(&local_err, "Could not save nvme-cfg");
+                        goto fail;
+                    }
+                } else if (first == last) {
+                    return NVME_INVALID_FIELD | NVME_DNR;
+                }
+            }
+
+fail:
+            if (local_err) {
+                error_report_err(local_err);
+                return NVME_INVALID_FIELD | NVME_DNR;
+            }
+
+            nvme_update_dmrsl(n);
+            break;
+        case NVME_CSI_ZONED:
+            /* fall through for now */
+        default:
+            return NVME_INVALID_FIELD | NVME_DNR;
+	    }
+        break;
     default:
         return NVME_INVALID_FIELD | NVME_DNR;
     }
diff --git a/hw/nvme/ns-backend.c b/hw/nvme/ns-backend.c
index 06de8f262c..57d0b695fa 100644
--- a/hw/nvme/ns-backend.c
+++ b/hw/nvme/ns-backend.c
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ void ns_blockdev_activate(BlockBackend *blk,  uint64_t image_size, Error **errp)
                        errp);
 }
 
+void ns_blockdev_deactivate(BlockBackend *blk, Error **errp)
+{
+    ns_blockdev_activate(blk, 0, errp);
+}
+
 int ns_storage_path_check(NvmeCtrl *n, Error **errp)
 {
     return storage_path_check(n->params.ns_directory,  n->params.serial, errp);
diff --git a/hw/nvme/ns.c b/hw/nvme/ns.c
index 6e518f97be..e1dfd83054 100644
--- a/hw/nvme/ns.c
+++ b/hw/nvme/ns.c
@@ -608,6 +608,78 @@ fail:
     return NULL;
 }
 
+static void nvme_ns_unrealize(DeviceState *dev);
+
+void nvme_ns_delete(NvmeCtrl *n, uint32_t nsid, Error **errp)
+{
+    NvmeNamespace *ns = NULL;
+    NvmeSubsystem *subsys = n->subsys;
+    int i;
+    int ret = 0;
+    Error *local_err = NULL;
+
+    trace_pci_nvme_ns_delete(nsid);
+
+    if (n->cntlid > 0 && !n->subsys) {
+        error_setg(&local_err, "Secondary controller without subsystem ");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (subsys) {
+        ns = nvme_subsys_ns(subsys, (uint32_t)nsid);
+        if (ns) {
+            if (ns->params.shared) {
+                for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(subsys->ctrls); i++) {
+                    NvmeCtrl *ctrl = subsys->ctrls[i];
+
+                    if (ctrl && ctrl->namespaces[nsid]) {
+                        ctrl->namespaces[nsid] = NULL;
+                        ns->attached--;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            subsys->namespaces[nsid] = NULL;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (!ns) {
+        ns = nvme_ns(n, (uint32_t)nsid);
+        if (ns) {
+            n->namespaces[nsid] = NULL;
+            ns->attached--;
+        } else {
+            error_setg(errp, "Namespace %d does not exist", nsid);
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (ns->attached > 0) {
+        error_setg(errp, "Could not detach all ns references for ns[%d], still %d left", nsid, ns->attached);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    /* here is actual deletion */
+    nvme_ns_unrealize(&ns->parent_obj);
+    qdev_unrealize(&ns->parent_obj);
+    ns_blockdev_deactivate(ns->blkconf.blk, &local_err);
+    if (local_err) {
+        error_propagate(errp, local_err);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    ns_cfg_clear(ns);
+    ret = ns_cfg_save(n, ns, nsid);
+    if (ret == -1) {
+        error_setg(errp, "Unable to save ns-cnf");
+        return;
+    } else if (ret == 1) {  /* should not occur here, check and error message prior to call to nvme_ns_delete() */
+        return;
+    }
+
+    /* disassociating refernces to the back-end and keeping it as preloaded */
+    ns->blkconf.blk = NULL;
+}
+
 int nvme_ns_setup(NvmeNamespace *ns, Error **errp)
 {
     if (nvme_ns_check_constraints(ns, errp)) {
diff --git a/hw/nvme/nvme.h b/hw/nvme/nvme.h
index 15b790cbdd..2c3ed4a57e 100644
--- a/hw/nvme/nvme.h
+++ b/hw/nvme/nvme.h
@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ void nvme_ns_shutdown(NvmeNamespace *ns);
 void nvme_ns_cleanup(NvmeNamespace *ns);
 void nvme_validate_flbas(uint8_t flbas,  Error **errp);
 NvmeNamespace * nvme_ns_create(NvmeCtrl *n, uint32_t nsid, NvmeIdNsMgmt *id_ns, Error **errp);
+void nvme_ns_delete(NvmeCtrl *n, uint32_t nsid, Error **errp);
 
 typedef struct NvmeAsyncEvent {
     QTAILQ_ENTRY(NvmeAsyncEvent) entry;
@@ -513,7 +514,6 @@ typedef struct NvmeCtrl {
         uint16_t    vqrfap;
         uint16_t    virfap;
     } next_pri_ctrl_cap;    /* These override pri_ctrl_cap after reset */
-    uint16_t nsidMax;
 } NvmeCtrl;
 
 typedef enum NvmeResetType {
@@ -582,6 +582,7 @@ static inline NvmeSecCtrlEntry *nvme_sctrl_for_cntlid(NvmeCtrl *n,
 
 BlockBackend *ns_blockdev_init(const char *file, Error **errp);
 void ns_blockdev_activate(BlockBackend *blk,  uint64_t image_size, Error **errp);
+void ns_blockdev_deactivate(BlockBackend *blk, Error **errp);
 int nvme_ns_backend_setup(NvmeCtrl *n, Error **errp);
 void nvme_attach_ns(NvmeCtrl *n, NvmeNamespace *ns);
 uint16_t nvme_bounce_data(NvmeCtrl *n, void *ptr, uint32_t len,
diff --git a/hw/nvme/trace-events b/hw/nvme/trace-events
index 28b025ac42..0dd0c23208 100644
--- a/hw/nvme/trace-events
+++ b/hw/nvme/trace-events
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ pci_nvme_aer_masked(uint8_t type, uint8_t mask) "type 0x%"PRIx8" mask 0x%"PRIx8"
 pci_nvme_aer_post_cqe(uint8_t typ, uint8_t info, uint8_t log_page) "type 0x%"PRIx8" info 0x%"PRIx8" lid 0x%"PRIx8""
 pci_nvme_ns_mgmt(uint16_t cid, uint32_t nsid, uint8_t sel, uint8_t csi, uint8_t psdt) "cid %"PRIu16", nsid=%"PRIu32", sel=0x%"PRIx8", csi=0x%"PRIx8", psdt=0x%"PRIx8""
 pci_nvme_ns_create(uint16_t nsid, uint64_t nsze, uint64_t ncap, uint8_t flbas) "nsid %"PRIu16", nsze=%"PRIu64", ncap=%"PRIu64", flbas=%"PRIu8""
+pci_nvme_ns_delete(uint16_t nsid) "nsid %"PRIu16""
 pci_nvme_ns_attachment(uint16_t cid, uint8_t sel) "cid %"PRIu16", sel=0x%"PRIx8""
 pci_nvme_ns_attachment_attach(uint16_t cntlid, uint32_t nsid) "cntlid=0x%"PRIx16", nsid=0x%"PRIx32""
 pci_nvme_enqueue_event(uint8_t typ, uint8_t info, uint8_t log_page) "type 0x%"PRIx8" info 0x%"PRIx8" lid 0x%"PRIx8""
diff --git a/include/block/nvme.h b/include/block/nvme.h
index 9d2e121f1a..0fe7fe9bb1 100644
--- a/include/block/nvme.h
+++ b/include/block/nvme.h
@@ -1191,6 +1191,7 @@ enum NvmeIdCtrlCmic {
 
 enum NvmeNsManagementOperation {
     NVME_NS_MANAGEMENT_CREATE = 0x0,
+    NVME_NS_MANAGEMENT_DELETE = 0x1,
 };
 
 enum NvmeNsAttachmentOperation {
