diff --git a/drivers/scsi/device_handler/scsi_dh.c b/drivers/scsi/device_handler/scsi_dh.c
index 3ac71cf6b7f0..7c05fd9dccfd 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/device_handler/scsi_dh.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/device_handler/scsi_dh.c
@@ -190,6 +190,10 @@ store_dh_state(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 	struct scsi_device_handler *scsi_dh;
 	int err = -EINVAL;
 
+	if (sdev->sdev_state == SDEV_CANCEL ||
+	    sdev->sdev_state == SDEV_DEL)
+		return -ENODEV;
+
 	if (!sdev->scsi_dh_data) {
 		/*
 		 * Attach to a device handler