diff --git a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
index d3ce5c383f3a..26a75f5cce95 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
@@ -3108,7 +3108,7 @@ int sata_down_spd_limit(struct ata_link *link, u32 spd_limit)
 	 */
 	if (spd > 1)
 		mask &= (1 << (spd - 1)) - 1;
-	else
+	else if (link->sata_spd)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	/* were we already at the bottom? */