diff --git a/drivers/scsi/scsi_scan.c b/drivers/scsi/scsi_scan.c
index 2e5fe584aad3..f55e5f166973 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/scsi_scan.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/scsi_scan.c
@@ -1717,6 +1717,9 @@ static void scsi_sysfs_add_devices(struct Scsi_Host *shost)
 {
 	struct scsi_device *sdev;
 	shost_for_each_device(sdev, shost) {
+		/* target removed before the device could be added */
+		if (sdev->sdev_state == SDEV_DEL)
+			continue;
 		if (!scsi_host_scan_allowed(shost) ||
 		    scsi_sysfs_add_sdev(sdev) != 0)
 			__scsi_remove_device(sdev);
diff --git a/drivers/scsi/scsi_sysfs.c b/drivers/scsi/scsi_sysfs.c
index d19d7e99626d..093d4f6a54d2 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/scsi_sysfs.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/scsi_sysfs.c
@@ -1005,7 +1005,6 @@ static void __scsi_remove_target(struct scsi_target *starget)
 	struct scsi_device *sdev;
 
 	spin_lock_irqsave(shost->host_lock, flags);
-	starget->reap_ref++;
  restart:
 	list_for_each_entry(sdev, &shost->__devices, siblings) {
 		if (sdev->channel != starget->channel ||
@@ -1019,14 +1018,6 @@ static void __scsi_remove_target(struct scsi_target *starget)
 		goto restart;
 	}
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(shost->host_lock, flags);
-	scsi_target_reap(starget);
-}
-
-static int __remove_child (struct device * dev, void * data)
-{
-	if (scsi_is_target_device(dev))
-		__scsi_remove_target(to_scsi_target(dev));
-	return 0;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1039,14 +1030,34 @@ static int __remove_child (struct device * dev, void * data)
  */
 void scsi_remove_target(struct device *dev)
 {
-	if (scsi_is_target_device(dev)) {
-		__scsi_remove_target(to_scsi_target(dev));
-		return;
-	}
+	struct Scsi_Host *shost = dev_to_shost(dev->parent);
+	struct scsi_target *starget, *found;
+	unsigned long flags;
 
-	get_device(dev);
-	device_for_each_child(dev, NULL, __remove_child);
-	put_device(dev);
+ restart:
+	found = NULL;
+	spin_lock_irqsave(shost->host_lock, flags);
+	list_for_each_entry(starget, &shost->__targets, siblings) {
+		if (starget->state == STARGET_DEL)
+			continue;
+		if (starget->dev.parent == dev || &starget->dev == dev) {
+			found = starget;
+			found->reap_ref++;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+	spin_unlock_irqrestore(shost->host_lock, flags);
+
+	if (found) {
+		__scsi_remove_target(found);
+		scsi_target_reap(found);
+		/* in the case where @dev has multiple starget children,
+		 * continue removing.
+		 *
+		 * FIXME: does such a case exist?
+		 */
+		goto restart;
+	}
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(scsi_remove_target);