diff --git a/hw/dv/dpi/common/tcp_server/tcp_server.c b/hw/dv/dpi/common/tcp_server/tcp_server.c
index f9944a58f562e..3a26835902baf 100644
--- a/hw/dv/dpi/common/tcp_server/tcp_server.c
+++ b/hw/dv/dpi/common/tcp_server/tcp_server.c
@@ -178,7 +178,6 @@ static int client_tryaccept(struct tcp_server_ctx *ctx) {
   int rv;
 
   assert(ctx->sfd > 0);
-  assert(ctx->cfd == 0);
 
   int cfd = accept(ctx->sfd, NULL, NULL);
 
@@ -192,6 +191,14 @@ static int client_tryaccept(struct tcp_server_ctx *ctx) {
     return -1;
   }
 
+  if (ctx->cfd > 0) {
+    // Enforce a single concurrent connection. Accept and close any
+    // new connection attempt when there's already a client.
+    fprintf(stderr, "%s: Rejecting additional connection\n", ctx->display_name);
+    close(cfd);
+    return -1;
+  }
+
   rv = fcntl(cfd, F_SETFL, O_NONBLOCK);
   if (rv != 0) {
     fprintf(stderr, "%s: Unable to make client socket non-blocking: %s (%d)\n",