diff --git a/drivers/nvdimm/nd_virtio.c b/drivers/nvdimm/nd_virtio.c
index 10351d5b4..41e97c656 100755
--- a/drivers/nvdimm/nd_virtio.c
+++ b/drivers/nvdimm/nd_virtio.c
@@ -44,6 +44,15 @@ static int virtio_pmem_flush(struct nd_region *nd_region)
 	unsigned long flags;
 	int err, err1;
 
+	/*
+	 * Don't bother to submit the request to the device if the device is
+	 * not activated.
+	 */
+	if (vdev->config->get_status(vdev) & VIRTIO_CONFIG_S_NEEDS_RESET) {
+		dev_info(&vdev->dev, "virtio pmem device needs a reset\n");
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
 	might_sleep();
 	req_data = kmalloc(sizeof(*req_data), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!req_data)