diff --git a/drivers/md/md.c b/drivers/md/md.c
index daa885ee4d60..21efb0b949a6 100644
--- a/drivers/md/md.c
+++ b/drivers/md/md.c
@@ -8932,6 +8932,7 @@ void md_check_recovery(struct mddev *mddev)
 
 	if (mddev_trylock(mddev)) {
 		int spares = 0;
+		bool try_set_sync = mddev->safemode != 0;
 
 		if (!mddev->external && mddev->safemode == 1)
 			mddev->safemode = 0;
@@ -8977,7 +8978,7 @@ void md_check_recovery(struct mddev *mddev)
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (!mddev->external && !mddev->in_sync) {
+		if (try_set_sync && !mddev->external && !mddev->in_sync) {
 			spin_lock(&mddev->lock);
 			set_in_sync(mddev);
 			spin_unlock(&mddev->lock);