diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/block.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/block.rs
index 8a41a1e4b3..dc29b11975 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/block.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/block.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use virtio_sys::virtio_ring::VIRTIO_RING_F_EVENT_IDX;
 use vm_memory::GuestMemory;
 use vmm_vhost::message::{VhostUserProtocolFeatures, VhostUserVirtioFeatures};
 
-use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, worker::Worker};
+use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::handler::VhostUserHandler;
 use crate::virtio::{block::common::virtio_blk_config, DeviceType, Interrupt, Queue, VirtioDevice};
 
 const VIRTIO_BLK_F_SEG_MAX: u32 = 2;
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ const QUEUE_SIZE: u16 = 256;
 
 pub struct Block {
     kill_evt: Option<Event>,
-    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<Worker>>,
+    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     handler: RefCell<VhostUserHandler>,
     queue_sizes: Vec<u16>,
 }
@@ -105,45 +105,17 @@ impl VirtioDevice for Block {
         queues: Vec<Queue>,
         queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
     ) {
-        if let Err(e) = self
+        match self
             .handler
             .borrow_mut()
-            .activate(&mem, &interrupt, &queues, &queue_evts)
+            .activate(mem, interrupt, queues, queue_evts, "block")
         {
-            error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        let (self_kill_evt, kill_evt) = match Event::new().and_then(|e| Ok((e.try_clone()?, e))) {
-            Ok(v) => v,
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed creating kill Event pair: {}", e);
-                return;
-            }
-        };
-        self.kill_evt = Some(self_kill_evt);
-
-        let worker_result = thread::Builder::new()
-            .name("vhost_user_virtio_blk".to_string())
-            .spawn(move || {
-                let mut worker = Worker {
-                    queues,
-                    mem,
-                    kill_evt,
-                };
-
-                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
-                    error!("failed to start a worker: {}", e);
-                }
-                worker
-            });
-
-        match worker_result {
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed to spawn vhost-user virtio_blk worker: {}", e);
-            }
-            Ok(join_handle) => {
+            Ok((join_handle, kill_evt)) => {
                 self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
+                self.kill_evt = Some(kill_evt);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/console.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/console.rs
index 7192d248b1..a767ce1911 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/console.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/console.rs
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ use vm_memory::GuestMemory;
 use vmm_vhost::message::{VhostUserProtocolFeatures, VhostUserVirtioFeatures};
 
 use crate::virtio::console::{virtio_console_config, QUEUE_SIZE};
-use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, worker::Worker, Error, Result};
+use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, Error, Result};
 use crate::virtio::{DeviceType, Interrupt, Queue, VirtioDevice};
 
 pub struct Console {
     kill_evt: Option<Event>,
-    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<Worker>>,
+    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     handler: RefCell<VhostUserHandler>,
     queue_sizes: Vec<u16>,
 }
@@ -88,44 +88,17 @@ impl VirtioDevice for Console {
         queues: Vec<Queue>,
         queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
     ) {
-        if let Err(e) = self
+        match self
             .handler
             .borrow_mut()
-            .activate(&mem, &interrupt, &queues, &queue_evts)
+            .activate(mem, interrupt, queues, queue_evts, "console")
         {
-            error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
-            return;
-        }
-        let (self_kill_evt, kill_evt) = match Event::new().and_then(|e| Ok((e.try_clone()?, e))) {
-            Ok(v) => v,
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed creating kill Event pair: {}", e);
-                return;
-            }
-        };
-        self.kill_evt = Some(self_kill_evt);
-
-        let worker_result = thread::Builder::new()
-            .name("vhost_user_virtio_console".to_string())
-            .spawn(move || {
-                let mut worker = Worker {
-                    queues,
-                    mem,
-                    kill_evt,
-                };
-
-                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
-                    error!("failed to start a worker: {}", e);
-                }
-                worker
-            });
-
-        match worker_result {
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed to spawn vhost-user virtio_console worker: {}", e);
-            }
-            Ok(join_handle) => {
+            Ok((join_handle, kill_evt)) => {
                 self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
+                self.kill_evt = Some(kill_evt);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/fs.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/fs.rs
index b285d4836d..c578af26d7 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/fs.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/fs.rs
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@ use vmm_vhost::message::{VhostUserProtocolFeatures, VhostUserVirtioFeatures};
 use vmm_vhost::Error as VhostUserError;
 
 use crate::virtio::fs::{virtio_fs_config, FS_MAX_TAG_LEN, QUEUE_SIZE};
-use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, worker::Worker, Error, Result};
+use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, Error, Result};
 use crate::virtio::{copy_config, DeviceType};
 use crate::virtio::{Interrupt, Queue, VirtioDevice};
 
 pub struct Fs {
     cfg: virtio_fs_config,
     kill_evt: Option<Event>,
-    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<Worker>>,
+    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     handler: RefCell<VhostUserHandler>,
     queue_sizes: Vec<u16>,
 }
@@ -120,45 +120,17 @@ impl VirtioDevice for Fs {
         queues: Vec<Queue>,
         queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
     ) {
-        if let Err(e) = self
+        match self
             .handler
             .borrow_mut()
-            .activate(&mem, &interrupt, &queues, &queue_evts)
+            .activate(mem, interrupt, queues, queue_evts, "fs")
         {
-            error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        let (self_kill_evt, kill_evt) = match Event::new().and_then(|e| Ok((e.try_clone()?, e))) {
-            Ok(v) => v,
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed creating kill Event pair: {}", e);
-                return;
-            }
-        };
-        self.kill_evt = Some(self_kill_evt);
-
-        let worker_result = thread::Builder::new()
-            .name("vhost_user_virtio_fs".to_string())
-            .spawn(move || {
-                let mut worker = Worker {
-                    queues,
-                    mem,
-                    kill_evt,
-                };
-
-                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
-                    error!("failed to start a worker: {}", e);
-                }
-                worker
-            });
-
-        match worker_result {
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed to spawn vhost-user virtio_fs worker: {}", e);
-            }
-            Ok(join_handle) => {
+            Ok((join_handle, kill_evt)) => {
                 self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
+                self.kill_evt = Some(kill_evt);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/gpu.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/gpu.rs
index 796e4fb06a..d0b4aea2c5 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/gpu.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/gpu.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use crate::{
     pci::{PciBarConfiguration, PciCapability},
     virtio::{
         gpu::QUEUE_SIZES,
-        vhost::user::vmm::{worker::Worker, Result, VhostUserHandler},
+        vhost::user::vmm::{Result, VhostUserHandler},
         virtio_gpu_config, DeviceType, Interrupt, PciCapabilityType, Queue, VirtioDevice,
         VirtioPciShmCap, GPU_BAR_NUM, GPU_BAR_OFFSET, VIRTIO_GPU_F_CONTEXT_INIT,
         VIRTIO_GPU_F_CREATE_GUEST_HANDLE, VIRTIO_GPU_F_RESOURCE_BLOB, VIRTIO_GPU_F_RESOURCE_SYNC,
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ enum GpuState {
 
 pub struct Gpu {
     kill_evt: Option<Event>,
-    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<Worker>>,
+    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     handler: RefCell<VhostUserHandler>,
     state: GpuState,
     queue_sizes: Vec<u16>,
@@ -149,45 +149,17 @@ impl VirtioDevice for Gpu {
         queues: Vec<Queue>,
         queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
     ) {
-        if let Err(e) = self
+        match self
             .handler
             .borrow_mut()
-            .activate(&mem, &interrupt, &queues, &queue_evts)
+            .activate(mem, interrupt, queues, queue_evts, "gpu")
         {
-            error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        let (self_kill_evt, kill_evt) = match Event::new().and_then(|e| Ok((e.try_clone()?, e))) {
-            Ok(v) => v,
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed creating kill Event pair: {}", e);
-                return;
-            }
-        };
-        self.kill_evt = Some(self_kill_evt);
-
-        let worker_result = thread::Builder::new()
-            .name("vhost_user_gpu".to_string())
-            .spawn(move || {
-                let mut worker = Worker {
-                    queues,
-                    mem,
-                    kill_evt,
-                };
-
-                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
-                    error!("failed to start a worker: {}", e);
-                }
-                worker
-            });
-
-        match worker_result {
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed to spawn vhost_user_gpu worker: {}", e);
-            }
-            Ok(join_handle) => {
+            Ok((join_handle, kill_evt)) => {
                 self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
+                self.kill_evt = Some(kill_evt);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/handler.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/handler.rs
index 710730aa6d..49806bf530 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/handler.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/handler.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@
 mod sys;
 
 use std::io::Write;
+use std::thread;
 
-use base::{AsRawDescriptor, Event, Tube};
+use base::{error, AsRawDescriptor, Event, Tube};
 use vm_memory::GuestMemory;
 use vmm_vhost::message::{
     VhostUserConfigFlags, VhostUserProtocolFeatures, VhostUserVirtioFeatures,
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ use vmm_vhost::message::{
 use vmm_vhost::{VhostBackend, VhostUserMaster, VhostUserMemoryRegionInfo, VringConfigData};
 
 use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::handler::sys::SocketMaster;
+use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::worker::Worker;
 use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{Error, Result};
 use crate::virtio::{Interrupt, Queue};
 
@@ -212,12 +214,13 @@ impl VhostUserHandler {
     /// Activates vrings.
     pub fn activate(
         &mut self,
-        mem: &GuestMemory,
-        interrupt: &Interrupt,
-        queues: &[Queue],
-        queue_evts: &[Event],
-    ) -> Result<()> {
-        self.set_mem_table(mem)?;
+        mem: GuestMemory,
+        interrupt: Interrupt,
+        queues: Vec<Queue>,
+        queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
+        label: &str,
+    ) -> Result<(thread::JoinHandle<()>, Event)> {
+        self.set_mem_table(&mem)?;
 
         let msix_config_opt = interrupt
             .get_msix_config()
@@ -230,10 +233,29 @@ impl VhostUserHandler {
             let irqfd = msix_config
                 .get_irqfd(queue.vector as usize)
                 .unwrap_or_else(|| interrupt.get_interrupt_evt());
-            self.activate_vring(mem, queue_index, queue, queue_evt, irqfd)?;
+            self.activate_vring(&mem, queue_index, queue, queue_evt, irqfd)?;
         }
 
-        Ok(())
+        drop(msix_config);
+
+        let label = format!("vhost_user_virtio_{}", label);
+        let kill_evt = Event::new().map_err(Error::CreateEvent)?;
+        let self_kill_evt = kill_evt.try_clone().map_err(Error::CreateEvent)?;
+        thread::Builder::new()
+            .name(label.clone())
+            .spawn(move || {
+                let mut worker = Worker {
+                    queues,
+                    mem,
+                    kill_evt,
+                };
+
+                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
+                    error!("failed to start {} worker: {}", label, e);
+                }
+            })
+            .map(|worker_result| (worker_result, self_kill_evt))
+            .map_err(Error::SpawnWorker)
     }
 
     /// Deactivates all vrings.
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/mac80211_hwsim.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/mac80211_hwsim.rs
index ba028eacdb..970e3b93bb 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/mac80211_hwsim.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/mac80211_hwsim.rs
@@ -8,33 +8,20 @@ use std::path::Path;
 use std::thread;
 
 use base::{error, Event, RawDescriptor};
-use remain::sorted;
-use thiserror::Error as ThisError;
 use vm_memory::GuestMemory;
 use vmm_vhost::message::{VhostUserProtocolFeatures, VhostUserVirtioFeatures};
 
-use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, worker::Worker, Error};
+use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, Error};
 use crate::virtio::{DeviceType, Interrupt, Queue, VirtioDevice};
 
 use std::result::Result;
 
-#[sorted]
-#[derive(ThisError, Debug)]
-enum Mac80211HwsimError {
-    #[error("failed to activate queues: {0}")]
-    ActivateQueue(Error),
-    #[error("failed to kill event pair: {0}")]
-    CreateKillEventPair(base::Error),
-    #[error("failed to spawn mac80211_hwsim worker: {0}")]
-    SpawnWorker(std::io::Error),
-}
-
 const QUEUE_SIZE: u16 = 256;
 const QUEUE_COUNT: usize = 2;
 
 pub struct Mac80211Hwsim {
     kill_evt: Option<Event>,
-    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<Worker>>,
+    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     handler: RefCell<VhostUserHandler>,
     queue_sizes: Vec<u16>,
 }
@@ -63,44 +50,6 @@ impl Mac80211Hwsim {
             queue_sizes,
         })
     }
-
-    fn activate_internal(
-        &mut self,
-        mem: GuestMemory,
-        interrupt: Interrupt,
-        queues: Vec<Queue>,
-        queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
-    ) -> Result<(), Mac80211HwsimError> {
-        self.handler
-            .borrow_mut()
-            .activate(&mem, &interrupt, &queues, &queue_evts)
-            .map_err(Mac80211HwsimError::ActivateQueue)?;
-
-        let (self_kill_evt, kill_evt) = Event::new()
-            .and_then(|e| Ok((e.try_clone()?, e)))
-            .map_err(Mac80211HwsimError::CreateKillEventPair)?;
-
-        self.kill_evt = Some(self_kill_evt);
-
-        let join_handle = thread::Builder::new()
-            .name("vhost_user_mac80211_hwsim".to_string())
-            .spawn(move || {
-                let mut worker = Worker {
-                    queues,
-                    mem,
-                    kill_evt,
-                };
-                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
-                    error!("failed to start a worker: {}", e);
-                }
-                worker
-            })
-            .map_err(Mac80211HwsimError::SpawnWorker)?;
-
-        self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
-
-        Ok(())
-    }
 }
 
 impl Drop for Mac80211Hwsim {
@@ -147,8 +96,20 @@ impl VirtioDevice for Mac80211Hwsim {
         queues: Vec<Queue>,
         queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
     ) {
-        if let Err(e) = self.activate_internal(mem, interrupt, queues, queue_evts) {
-            error!("Failed to activate mac80211_hwsim: {}", e);
+        match self.handler.borrow_mut().activate(
+            mem,
+            interrupt,
+            queues,
+            queue_evts,
+            "mac80211_hwsim",
+        ) {
+            Ok((join_handle, kill_evt)) => {
+                self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
+                self.kill_evt = Some(kill_evt);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/mod.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/mod.rs
index a281c969cd..6435e78146 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/mod.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/mod.rs
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ pub enum Error {
     /// Failed to create Master from a UDS path.
     #[error("failed to connect to device socket while creating instance: {0}")]
     SocketConnectOnMasterCreate(VhostError),
+    /// Failed to spawn worker thread.
+    #[error("failed to spawn worker: {0}")]
+    SpawnWorker(std::io::Error),
     /// The tag for the Fs device was too long to fit in the config space.
     #[error("tag is too long: {len} > {max}")]
     TagTooLong { len: usize, max: usize },
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/net.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/net.rs
index 6854e0b307..1da95a6931 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/net.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/net.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use virtio_sys::virtio_net;
 use vm_memory::GuestMemory;
 use vmm_vhost::message::{VhostUserProtocolFeatures, VhostUserVirtioFeatures};
 
-use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, worker::Worker, Error};
+use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, Error};
 use crate::virtio::{DeviceType, Interrupt, Queue, VirtioDevice, VirtioNetConfig};
 
 type Result<T> = std::result::Result<T, Error>;
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ const QUEUE_SIZE: u16 = 1024;
 
 pub struct Net {
     kill_evt: Option<Event>,
-    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<Worker>>,
+    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     handler: RefCell<VhostUserHandler>,
     queue_sizes: Vec<u16>,
 }
@@ -101,44 +101,17 @@ impl VirtioDevice for Net {
         queues: Vec<Queue>,
         queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
     ) {
-        if let Err(e) = self
+        match self
             .handler
             .borrow_mut()
-            .activate(&mem, &interrupt, &queues, &queue_evts)
+            .activate(mem, interrupt, queues, queue_evts, "net")
         {
-            error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        let (self_kill_evt, kill_evt) = match Event::new().and_then(|e| Ok((e.try_clone()?, e))) {
-            Ok(v) => v,
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed creating kill Event pair: {}", e);
-                return;
-            }
-        };
-        self.kill_evt = Some(self_kill_evt);
-
-        let worker_result = thread::Builder::new()
-            .name("vhost_user_virtio_net".to_string())
-            .spawn(move || {
-                let mut worker = Worker {
-                    queues,
-                    mem,
-                    kill_evt,
-                };
-                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
-                    error!("failed to start a worker: {}", e);
-                }
-                worker
-            });
-
-        match worker_result {
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed to spawn virtio_net worker: {}", e);
-            }
-            Ok(join_handle) => {
+            Ok((join_handle, kill_evt)) => {
                 self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
+                self.kill_evt = Some(kill_evt);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/snd.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/snd.rs
index 24a867e60a..230c6ef719 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/snd.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/snd.rs
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ use vm_memory::GuestMemory;
 use vmm_vhost::message::{VhostUserProtocolFeatures, VhostUserVirtioFeatures};
 
 use crate::virtio::snd::layout::virtio_snd_config;
-use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, worker::Worker, Error, Result};
+use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, Error, Result};
 use crate::virtio::{DeviceType, Interrupt, Queue, VirtioDevice};
 
 // A vhost-user snd device.
 pub struct Snd {
     kill_evt: Option<Event>,
-    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<Worker>>,
+    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     handler: RefCell<VhostUserHandler>,
     queue_sizes: Vec<u16>,
 }
@@ -97,46 +97,17 @@ impl VirtioDevice for Snd {
         queues: Vec<Queue>,
         queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
     ) {
-        if let Err(e) = self
+        match self
             .handler
             .borrow_mut()
-            .activate(&mem, &interrupt, &queues, &queue_evts)
+            .activate(mem, interrupt, queues, queue_evts, "snd")
         {
-            error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        let (self_kill_evt, kill_evt) =
-            match Event::new().and_then(|evt| Ok((evt.try_clone()?, evt))) {
-                Ok(v) => v,
-                Err(e) => {
-                    error!("failed creating kill Event pair: {}", e);
-                    return;
-                }
-            };
-        self.kill_evt = Some(self_kill_evt);
-
-        let worker_result = thread::Builder::new()
-            .name("vhost_user_virtio_snd".to_string())
-            .spawn(move || {
-                let mut worker = Worker {
-                    queues,
-                    mem,
-                    kill_evt,
-                };
-
-                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
-                    error!("failed to start a worker: {}", e);
-                }
-                worker
-            });
-
-        match worker_result {
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed to spawn vhost-user virtio_snd worker: {}", e);
-            }
-            Ok(join_handle) => {
+            Ok((join_handle, kill_evt)) => {
                 self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
+                self.kill_evt = Some(kill_evt);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/vsock.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/vsock.rs
index 8c63c85def..6d2e4adc7d 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/vsock.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/vsock.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use vmm_vhost::message::{VhostUserProtocolFeatures, VhostUserVirtioFeatures};
 
 use crate::virtio::{
     vhost::{
-        user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, worker::Worker, Error, Result},
+        user::vmm::{handler::VhostUserHandler, Error, Result},
         vsock,
     },
     DeviceType, Interrupt, Queue, VirtioDevice,
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ use crate::virtio::{
 
 pub struct Vsock {
     kill_evt: Option<Event>,
-    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<Worker>>,
+    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     handler: RefCell<VhostUserHandler>,
     queue_sizes: Vec<u16>,
 }
@@ -100,44 +100,17 @@ impl VirtioDevice for Vsock {
         queues: Vec<Queue>,
         queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
     ) {
-        if let Err(e) = self
+        match self
             .handler
             .borrow_mut()
-            .activate(&mem, &interrupt, &queues, &queue_evts)
+            .activate(mem, interrupt, queues, queue_evts, "vsock")
         {
-            error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        let (self_kill_evt, kill_evt) = match Event::new().and_then(|e| Ok((e.try_clone()?, e))) {
-            Ok(v) => v,
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed creating kill Event pair: {}", e);
-                return;
-            }
-        };
-        self.kill_evt = Some(self_kill_evt);
-
-        let worker_result = thread::Builder::new()
-            .name("vhost_user_vsock".to_string())
-            .spawn(move || {
-                let mut worker = Worker {
-                    queues,
-                    mem,
-                    kill_evt,
-                };
-                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
-                    error!("failed to start a worker: {}", e);
-                }
-                worker
-            });
-
-        match worker_result {
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed to spawn virtio_vsock worker: {}", e);
-            }
-            Ok(join_handle) => {
+            Ok((join_handle, kill_evt)) => {
                 self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
+                self.kill_evt = Some(kill_evt);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/wl.rs b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/wl.rs
index 36ce2399c3..c9112b9ed4 100644
--- a/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/wl.rs
+++ b/devices/src/virtio/vhost/user/vmm/wl.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use base::{error, Event, RawDescriptor};
 use vm_memory::GuestMemory;
 use vmm_vhost::message::{VhostUserProtocolFeatures, VhostUserVirtioFeatures};
 
-use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{worker::Worker, Result, VhostUserHandler};
+use crate::virtio::vhost::user::vmm::{Result, VhostUserHandler};
 use crate::virtio::wl::{
     QUEUE_SIZE, QUEUE_SIZES, VIRTIO_WL_F_SEND_FENCES, VIRTIO_WL_F_TRANS_FLAGS,
 };
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use crate::virtio::{DeviceType, Interrupt, Queue, VirtioDevice};
 
 pub struct Wl {
     kill_evt: Option<Event>,
-    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<Worker>>,
+    worker_thread: Option<thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
     handler: RefCell<VhostUserHandler>,
     queue_sizes: Vec<u16>,
 }
@@ -85,45 +85,17 @@ impl VirtioDevice for Wl {
         queues: Vec<Queue>,
         queue_evts: Vec<Event>,
     ) {
-        if let Err(e) = self
+        match self
             .handler
             .borrow_mut()
-            .activate(&mem, &interrupt, &queues, &queue_evts)
+            .activate(mem, interrupt, queues, queue_evts, "wl")
         {
-            error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
-            return;
-        }
-
-        let (self_kill_evt, kill_evt) = match Event::new().and_then(|e| Ok((e.try_clone()?, e))) {
-            Ok(v) => v,
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed creating kill Event pair: {}", e);
-                return;
-            }
-        };
-        self.kill_evt = Some(self_kill_evt);
-
-        let worker_result = thread::Builder::new()
-            .name("vhost_user_wl".to_string())
-            .spawn(move || {
-                let mut worker = Worker {
-                    queues,
-                    mem,
-                    kill_evt,
-                };
-
-                if let Err(e) = worker.run(interrupt) {
-                    error!("failed to start a worker: {}", e);
-                }
-                worker
-            });
-
-        match worker_result {
-            Err(e) => {
-                error!("failed to spawn vhost_user_wl worker: {}", e);
-            }
-            Ok(join_handle) => {
+            Ok((join_handle, kill_evt)) => {
                 self.worker_thread = Some(join_handle);
+                self.kill_evt = Some(kill_evt);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                error!("failed to activate queues: {}", e);
             }
         }
     }