diff --git a/net/sunrpc/clnt.c b/net/sunrpc/clnt.c
index de18a463ac96..eef2f732fbe3 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/clnt.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/clnt.c
@@ -1936,6 +1936,14 @@ call_connect_status(struct rpc_task *task)
 	task->tk_status = 0;
 	switch (status) {
 	case -ECONNREFUSED:
+		/* A positive refusal suggests a rebind is needed. */
+		if (RPC_IS_SOFTCONN(task))
+			break;
+		if (clnt->cl_autobind) {
+			rpc_force_rebind(clnt);
+			task->tk_action = call_bind;
+			return;
+		}
 	case -ECONNRESET:
 	case -ECONNABORTED:
 	case -ENETUNREACH: