diff --git a/drivers/scsi/sd.c b/drivers/scsi/sd.c
index 6dd43fff07ad..4fce7cc32cb2 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/sd.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/sd.c
@@ -1690,13 +1690,15 @@ static int sd_sync_cache(struct scsi_disk *sdkp)
 			    (sshdr.asc == 0x74 && sshdr.ascq == 0x71))	/* drive is password locked */
 				/* this is no error here */
 				return 0;
+
 			/*
-			 * This drive doesn't support sync and there's not much
-			 * we can do because this is called during shutdown
-			 * or suspend so just return success so those operations
-			 * can proceed.
+			 * If a format is in progress or if the drive does not
+			 * support sync, there is not much we can do because
+			 * this is called during shutdown or suspend so just
+			 * return success so those operations can proceed.
 			 */
-			if (sshdr.sense_key == ILLEGAL_REQUEST)
+			if ((sshdr.asc == 0x04 && sshdr.ascq == 0x04) ||
+			    sshdr.sense_key == ILLEGAL_REQUEST)
 				return 0;
 		}