diff --git a/drivers/mmc/host/mmci.c b/drivers/mmc/host/mmci.c
index 4ab0c622dff3..4c78783e5e1a 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/host/mmci.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/host/mmci.c
@@ -674,6 +674,7 @@ static u32 ux500v2_get_dctrl_cfg(struct mmci_host *host)
 static bool ux500_busy_complete(struct mmci_host *host, u32 status, u32 err_msk)
 {
 	void __iomem *base = host->base;
+	int retries = 10;
 
 	if (status & err_msk) {
 		/* Stop any ongoing busy detection if an error occurs */
@@ -694,21 +695,35 @@ static bool ux500_busy_complete(struct mmci_host *host, u32 status, u32 err_msk)
 	 * Note that, the card may need a couple of clock cycles before
 	 * it starts signaling busy on DAT0, hence re-read the
 	 * MMCISTATUS register here, to allow the busy bit to be set.
-	 * Potentially we may even need to poll the register for a
-	 * while, to allow it to be set, but tests indicates that it
-	 * isn't needed.
 	 */
 	if (host->busy_state == MMCI_BUSY_DONE) {
-		status = readl(base + MMCISTATUS);
-		if (status & host->variant->busy_detect_flag) {
-			writel(readl(base + MMCIMASK0) |
-			       host->variant->busy_detect_mask,
-			       base + MMCIMASK0);
-
-			host->busy_status = status & (MCI_CMDSENT | MCI_CMDRESPEND);
-			host->busy_state = MMCI_BUSY_WAITING_FOR_START_IRQ;
-			return false;
+		/*
+		 * Save the first status register read to be sure to catch
+		 * all bits that may be lost will retrying. If the command
+		 * is still busy this will result in assigning 0 to
+		 * host->busy_status, which is what it should be in IDLE.
+		 */
+		host->busy_status = status & (MCI_CMDSENT | MCI_CMDRESPEND);
+		while (retries) {
+			status = readl(base + MMCISTATUS);
+			/* Keep accumulating status bits */
+			host->busy_status |= status & (MCI_CMDSENT | MCI_CMDRESPEND);
+			if (status & host->variant->busy_detect_flag) {
+				writel(readl(base + MMCIMASK0) |
+				       host->variant->busy_detect_mask,
+				       base + MMCIMASK0);
+				host->busy_state = MMCI_BUSY_WAITING_FOR_START_IRQ;
+				return false;
+			}
+			retries--;
 		}
+		dev_dbg(mmc_dev(host->mmc), "no busy signalling in time\n");
+		writel(host->variant->busy_detect_mask, base + MMCICLEAR);
+		writel(readl(base + MMCIMASK0) &
+		       ~host->variant->busy_detect_mask, base + MMCIMASK0);
+		host->busy_state = MMCI_BUSY_DONE;
+		host->busy_status = 0;
+		return true;
 	}
 
 	/*