diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/device.c b/drivers/s390/cio/device.c
index c4d2f667a2f6..9f016fef6101 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/device.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/device.c
@@ -482,17 +482,21 @@ static int online_store_recog_and_online(struct ccw_device *cdev)
 		}
 		wait_event(cdev->private->wait_q,
 			   cdev->private->flags.recog_done);
+		if (cdev->private->state != DEV_STATE_OFFLINE)
+			/* recognition failed */
+			return -EAGAIN;
 	}
 	if (cdev->drv && cdev->drv->set_online)
 		ccw_device_set_online(cdev);
 	return 0;
 }
+
 static int online_store_handle_online(struct ccw_device *cdev, int force)
 {
 	int ret;
 
 	ret = online_store_recog_and_online(cdev);
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret && !force)
 		return ret;
 	if (force && cdev->private->state == DEV_STATE_BOXED) {
 		ret = ccw_device_stlck(cdev);
@@ -500,7 +504,9 @@ static int online_store_handle_online(struct ccw_device *cdev, int force)
 			return ret;
 		if (cdev->id.cu_type == 0)
 			cdev->private->state = DEV_STATE_NOT_OPER;
-		online_store_recog_and_online(cdev);
+		ret = online_store_recog_and_online(cdev);
+		if (ret)
+			return ret;
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/device_fsm.c b/drivers/s390/cio/device_fsm.c
index 87b4bfca080f..ccd72f95765f 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/device_fsm.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/device_fsm.c
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ ccw_device_recog_done(struct ccw_device *cdev, int state)
 		if (state == DEV_STATE_NOT_OPER) {
 			cdev->private->flags.recog_done = 1;
 			cdev->private->state = DEV_STATE_DISCONNECTED;
+			wake_up(&cdev->private->wait_q);
 			return;
 		}
 		/* Boxed devices don't need extra treatment. */
@@ -311,8 +312,7 @@ ccw_device_recog_done(struct ccw_device *cdev, int state)
 	}
 	cdev->private->state = state;
 	io_subchannel_recog_done(cdev);
-	if (state != DEV_STATE_NOT_OPER)
-		wake_up(&cdev->private->wait_q);
+	wake_up(&cdev->private->wait_q);
 }
 
 /*