diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/io-cmd-file.c b/drivers/nvme/target/io-cmd-file.c
index 6ca17a0babae..1c8d16b0245b 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/io-cmd-file.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/io-cmd-file.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <linux/uio.h>
 #include <linux/falloc.h>
 #include <linux/file.h>
+#include <linux/fs.h>
 #include "nvmet.h"
 
 #define NVMET_MAX_MPOOL_BVEC		16
@@ -254,7 +255,8 @@ static void nvmet_file_execute_rw(struct nvmet_req *req)
 
 	if (req->ns->buffered_io) {
 		if (likely(!req->f.mpool_alloc) &&
-				nvmet_file_execute_io(req, IOCB_NOWAIT))
+		    (req->ns->file->f_mode & FMODE_NOWAIT) &&
+		    nvmet_file_execute_io(req, IOCB_NOWAIT))
 			return;
 		nvmet_file_submit_buffered_io(req);
 	} else