diff --git a/drivers/md/raid5.c b/drivers/md/raid5.c
index d1c488b008af..51003b008de7 100644
--- a/drivers/md/raid5.c
+++ b/drivers/md/raid5.c
@@ -1645,6 +1645,7 @@ static sector_t sync_request(mddev_t *mddev, sector_t sector_nr, int *skipped, i
 		return rv;
 	}
 	if (!bitmap_start_sync(mddev->bitmap, sector_nr, &sync_blocks, 1) &&
+	    !test_bit(MD_RECOVERY_REQUESTED, &mddev->recovery) &&
 	    !conf->fullsync && sync_blocks >= STRIPE_SECTORS) {
 		/* we can skip this block, and probably more */
 		sync_blocks /= STRIPE_SECTORS;