diff --git a/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c b/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c
index 0569c15fddfe..2002684a68b3 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c
@@ -461,11 +461,19 @@ static int read_unit_address_configuration(struct dasd_device *device,
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&lcu->lock, flags);
 
 	rc = dasd_sleep_on(cqr);
-	if (rc && !suborder_not_supported(cqr)) {
+	if (!rc)
+		goto out;
+
+	if (suborder_not_supported(cqr)) {
+		/* suborder not supported or device unusable for IO */
+		rc = -EOPNOTSUPP;
+	} else {
+		/* IO failed but should be retried */
 		spin_lock_irqsave(&lcu->lock, flags);
 		lcu->flags |= NEED_UAC_UPDATE;
 		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&lcu->lock, flags);
 	}
+out:
 	dasd_kfree_request(cqr, cqr->memdev);
 	return rc;
 }