diff --git a/drivers/s390/block/dasd.c b/drivers/s390/block/dasd.c
index 1aec8ff0b587..f73d2f579a7e 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/block/dasd.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/block/dasd.c
@@ -1862,6 +1862,33 @@ static void __dasd_device_check_expire(struct dasd_device *device)
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * return 1 when device is not eligible for IO
+ */
+static int __dasd_device_is_unusable(struct dasd_device *device,
+				     struct dasd_ccw_req *cqr)
+{
+	int mask = ~(DASD_STOPPED_DC_WAIT | DASD_UNRESUMED_PM);
+
+	if (test_bit(DASD_FLAG_OFFLINE, &device->flags)) {
+		/* dasd is being set offline. */
+		return 1;
+	}
+	if (device->stopped) {
+		if (device->stopped & mask) {
+			/* stopped and CQR will not change that. */
+			return 1;
+		}
+		if (!test_bit(DASD_CQR_VERIFY_PATH, &cqr->flags)) {
+			/* CQR is not able to change device to
+			 * operational. */
+			return 1;
+		}
+		/* CQR required to get device operational. */
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Take a look at the first request on the ccw queue and check
  * if it needs to be started.
@@ -1876,13 +1903,8 @@ static void __dasd_device_start_head(struct dasd_device *device)
 	cqr = list_entry(device->ccw_queue.next, struct dasd_ccw_req, devlist);
 	if (cqr->status != DASD_CQR_QUEUED)
 		return;
-	/* when device is stopped, return request to previous layer
-	 * exception: only the disconnect or unresumed bits are set and the
-	 * cqr is a path verification request
-	 */
-	if (device->stopped &&
-	    !(!(device->stopped & ~(DASD_STOPPED_DC_WAIT | DASD_UNRESUMED_PM))
-	      && test_bit(DASD_CQR_VERIFY_PATH, &cqr->flags))) {
+	/* if device is not usable return request to upper layer */
+	if (__dasd_device_is_unusable(device, cqr)) {
 		cqr->intrc = -EAGAIN;
 		cqr->status = DASD_CQR_CLEARED;
 		dasd_schedule_device_bh(device);
diff --git a/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c b/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c
index a2597e683e79..ee3a6faae22a 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/block/dasd_alias.c
@@ -699,7 +699,8 @@ struct dasd_device *dasd_alias_get_start_dev(struct dasd_device *base_device)
 					       struct dasd_device, alias_list);
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&lcu->lock, flags);
 	alias_priv = (struct dasd_eckd_private *) alias_device->private;
-	if ((alias_priv->count < private->count) && !alias_device->stopped)
+	if ((alias_priv->count < private->count) && !alias_device->stopped &&
+	    !test_bit(DASD_FLAG_OFFLINE, &alias_device->flags))
 		return alias_device;
 	else
 		return NULL;