diff --git a/drivers/block/rbd.c b/drivers/block/rbd.c
index 8e5140bbf241..1e92b61d0bd5 100644
--- a/drivers/block/rbd.c
+++ b/drivers/block/rbd.c
@@ -5986,7 +5986,6 @@ static ssize_t do_rbd_remove(struct bus_type *bus,
 	struct list_head *tmp;
 	int dev_id;
 	char opt_buf[6];
-	bool already = false;
 	bool force = false;
 	int ret;
 
@@ -6019,13 +6018,13 @@ static ssize_t do_rbd_remove(struct bus_type *bus,
 		spin_lock_irq(&rbd_dev->lock);
 		if (rbd_dev->open_count && !force)
 			ret = -EBUSY;
-		else
-			already = test_and_set_bit(RBD_DEV_FLAG_REMOVING,
-							&rbd_dev->flags);
+		else if (test_and_set_bit(RBD_DEV_FLAG_REMOVING,
+					  &rbd_dev->flags))
+			ret = -EINPROGRESS;
 		spin_unlock_irq(&rbd_dev->lock);
 	}
 	spin_unlock(&rbd_dev_list_lock);
-	if (ret < 0 || already)
+	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
 	if (force) {