diff --git a/drivers/md/raid1.c b/drivers/md/raid1.c
index 791e1951430a..968cb14b63c0 100644
--- a/drivers/md/raid1.c
+++ b/drivers/md/raid1.c
@@ -1188,6 +1188,7 @@ static int raid1_remove_disk(mddev_t *mddev, int number)
 		 * is not possible.
 		 */
 		if (!test_bit(Faulty, &rdev->flags) &&
+		    !mddev->recovery_disabled &&
 		    mddev->degraded < conf->raid_disks) {
 			err = -EBUSY;
 			goto abort;