A host reserves a device controlled by a controller that is coupled to the host. The controller starts a first timer, in response to a completion of input/output (I/O) operations on the device by the host, wherein the host continues to reserve the device after the completion of the I/O operations. The controller sends a notification to the host after an expiry of the first timer, wherein the notification requests the host to determine whether the device should continue to be reserved by the host. The controller starts a second timer, in response to receiving an acknowledgement from the host that the notification has been received by the host, wherein reservation status of the device reserved by the host is determined by the controller on or prior to an expiry of the second timer.