diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/sysfs.c b/drivers/nvme/host/sysfs.c
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/sysfs.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/sysfs.c
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ static ssize_t nvme_sysfs_reset(struct device *dev,
 	struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl = dev_get_drvdata(dev);
 	int ret;

+	if (!test_bit(NVME_CTRL_STARTED_ONCE, &ctrl->flags))
+		return -EBUSY;
+
 	ret = nvme_reset_ctrl_sync(ctrl);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;