diff --git a/drivers/ata/libata-eh.c b/drivers/ata/libata-eh.c
index bb0813ea8b18..9a4b67b90b17 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libata-eh.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libata-eh.c
@@ -3181,7 +3181,7 @@ int ata_eh_reset(struct ata_link *link, int classify,
 	    sata_scr_read(link, SCR_STATUS, &sstatus))
 		rc = -ERESTART;
 
-	if (try >= max_tries) {
+	if (try >= max_tries || rc == -ENODEV) {
 		/*
 		 * Thaw host port even if reset failed, so that the port
 		 * can be retried on the next phy event.  This risks