diff --git a/drivers/block/ublk_drv.c b/drivers/block/ublk_drv.c
index 890c08792ba8..1d53a3f48a0e 100644
--- a/drivers/block/ublk_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/block/ublk_drv.c
@@ -2663,6 +2663,8 @@ static int ublk_ctrl_start_recovery(struct ublk_device *ub,
 	mutex_lock(&ub->mutex);
 	if (!ublk_can_use_recovery(ub))
 		goto out_unlock;
+	if (!ub->nr_queues_ready)
+		goto out_unlock;
 	/*
 	 * START_RECOVERY is only allowd after:
 	 *