diff --git a/block/bdev.c b/block/bdev.c
index bb0ffa3bb4df..e44a73903201 100644
--- a/block/bdev.c
+++ b/block/bdev.c
@@ -1250,7 +1250,13 @@ void bdev_mark_dead(struct block_device *bdev, bool surprise)
 		bdev->bd_holder_ops->mark_dead(bdev, surprise);
 	else {
 		mutex_unlock(&bdev->bd_holder_lock);
-		sync_blockdev(bdev);
+		/*
+		 * On surprise removal the device is already gone; syncing is
+		 * futile and can hang forever waiting on I/O that will never
+		 * complete.  Match fs_bdev_mark_dead(), which also skips it.
+		 */
+		if (!surprise)
+			sync_blockdev(bdev);
 	}
 
 	invalidate_bdev(bdev);