diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/core.c
@@ -680,6 +680,9 @@ int nvme_reset_ctrl_sync(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl)
 {
 	int ret;

+	if (!test_bit(NVME_CTRL_STARTED_ONCE, &ctrl->flags))
+		return -EBUSY;
+
 	ret = nvme_reset_ctrl(ctrl);
 	if (!ret) {
 		flush_work(&ctrl->reset_work);