diff --git a/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_scsih.c b/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_scsih.c
index e111c3d8c5d6..b868ef3b2ca3 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_scsih.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_scsih.c
@@ -3886,19 +3886,6 @@ scsih_qcmd(struct Scsi_Host *shost, struct scsi_cmnd *scmd)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * Bug work around for firmware SATL handling.  The loop
-	 * is based on atomic operations and ensures consistency
-	 * since we're lockless at this point
-	 */
-	do {
-		if (test_bit(0, &sas_device_priv_data->ata_command_pending)) {
-			scmd->result = SAM_STAT_BUSY;
-			scmd->scsi_done(scmd);
-			return 0;
-		}
-	} while (_scsih_set_satl_pending(scmd, true));
-
 	sas_target_priv_data = sas_device_priv_data->sas_target;
 
 	/* invalid device handle */
@@ -3924,6 +3911,19 @@ scsih_qcmd(struct Scsi_Host *shost, struct scsi_cmnd *scmd)
 	    sas_device_priv_data->block)
 		return SCSI_MLQUEUE_DEVICE_BUSY;
 
+	/*
+	 * Bug work around for firmware SATL handling.  The loop
+	 * is based on atomic operations and ensures consistency
+	 * since we're lockless at this point
+	 */
+	do {
+		if (test_bit(0, &sas_device_priv_data->ata_command_pending)) {
+			scmd->result = SAM_STAT_BUSY;
+			scmd->scsi_done(scmd);
+			return 0;
+		}
+	} while (_scsih_set_satl_pending(scmd, true));
+
 	if (scmd->sc_data_direction == DMA_FROM_DEVICE)
 		mpi_control = MPI2_SCSIIO_CONTROL_READ;
 	else if (scmd->sc_data_direction == DMA_TO_DEVICE)
@@ -3945,6 +3945,7 @@ scsih_qcmd(struct Scsi_Host *shost, struct scsi_cmnd *scmd)
 	if (!smid) {
 		pr_err(MPT3SAS_FMT "%s: failed obtaining a smid\n",
 		    ioc->name, __func__);
+		_scsih_set_satl_pending(scmd, false);
 		goto out;
 	}
 	mpi_request = mpt3sas_base_get_msg_frame(ioc, smid);
@@ -3975,6 +3976,7 @@ scsih_qcmd(struct Scsi_Host *shost, struct scsi_cmnd *scmd)
 	if (mpi_request->DataLength) {
 		if (ioc->build_sg_scmd(ioc, scmd, smid)) {
 			mpt3sas_base_free_smid(ioc, smid);
+			_scsih_set_satl_pending(scmd, false);
 			goto out;
 		}
 	} else