diff --git a/drivers/usb/class/cdc-wdm.c b/drivers/usb/class/cdc-wdm.c
index 1656f5155ab8..f2cb5d401790 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/class/cdc-wdm.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/class/cdc-wdm.c
@@ -588,10 +588,20 @@ static int wdm_flush(struct file *file, fl_owner_t id)
 {
 	struct wdm_device *desc = file->private_data;
 
-	wait_event(desc->wait, !test_bit(WDM_IN_USE, &desc->flags));
+	wait_event(desc->wait,
+			/*
+			 * needs both flags. We cannot do with one
+			 * because resetting it would cause a race
+			 * with write() yet we need to signal
+			 * a disconnect
+			 */
+			!test_bit(WDM_IN_USE, &desc->flags) &&
+			test_bit(WDM_DISCONNECTING, &desc->flags));
 
 	/* cannot dereference desc->intf if WDM_DISCONNECTING */
-	if (desc->werr < 0 && !test_bit(WDM_DISCONNECTING, &desc->flags))
+	if (test_bit(WDM_DISCONNECTING, &desc->flags))
+		return -ENODEV;
+	if (desc->werr < 0)
 		dev_err(&desc->intf->dev, "Error in flush path: %d\n",
 			desc->werr);
 
@@ -975,8 +985,6 @@ static void wdm_disconnect(struct usb_interface *intf)
 	spin_lock_irqsave(&desc->iuspin, flags);
 	set_bit(WDM_DISCONNECTING, &desc->flags);
 	set_bit(WDM_READ, &desc->flags);
-	/* to terminate pending flushes */
-	clear_bit(WDM_IN_USE, &desc->flags);
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&desc->iuspin, flags);
 	wake_up_all(&desc->wait);
 	mutex_lock(&desc->rlock);