diff --git a/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_base.h b/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_base.h
index 394fe1338d09..dcb33f4fa687 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_base.h
+++ b/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_base.h
@@ -393,6 +393,7 @@ struct MPT3SAS_TARGET {
  * @eedp_enable: eedp support enable bit
  * @eedp_type: 0(type_1), 1(type_2), 2(type_3)
  * @eedp_block_length: block size
+ * @ata_command_pending: SATL passthrough outstanding for device
  */
 struct MPT3SAS_DEVICE {
 	struct MPT3SAS_TARGET *sas_target;
@@ -404,6 +405,17 @@ struct MPT3SAS_DEVICE {
 	u8	ignore_delay_remove;
 	/* Iopriority Command Handling */
 	u8	ncq_prio_enable;
+	/*
+	 * Bug workaround for SATL handling: the mpt2/3sas firmware
+	 * doesn't return BUSY or TASK_SET_FULL for subsequent
+	 * commands while a SATL pass through is in operation as the
+	 * spec requires, it simply does nothing with them until the
+	 * pass through completes, causing them possibly to timeout if
+	 * the passthrough is a long executing command (like format or
+	 * secure erase).  This variable allows us to do the right
+	 * thing while a SATL command is pending.
+	 */
+	unsigned long ata_command_pending;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_scsih.c b/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_scsih.c
index b5c966e319d3..75f3fce1c867 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_scsih.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/mpt3sas/mpt3sas_scsih.c
@@ -3899,9 +3899,18 @@ _scsih_temp_threshold_events(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc,
 	}
 }
 
-static inline bool ata_12_16_cmd(struct scsi_cmnd *scmd)
+static int _scsih_set_satl_pending(struct scsi_cmnd *scmd, bool pending)
 {
-	return (scmd->cmnd[0] == ATA_12 || scmd->cmnd[0] == ATA_16);
+	struct MPT3SAS_DEVICE *priv = scmd->device->hostdata;
+
+	if (scmd->cmnd[0] != ATA_12 && scmd->cmnd[0] != ATA_16)
+		return 0;
+
+	if (pending)
+		return test_and_set_bit(0, &priv->ata_command_pending);
+
+	clear_bit(0, &priv->ata_command_pending);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -3925,9 +3934,7 @@ _scsih_flush_running_cmds(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc)
 		if (!scmd)
 			continue;
 		count++;
-		if (ata_12_16_cmd(scmd))
-			scsi_internal_device_unblock(scmd->device,
-							SDEV_RUNNING);
+		_scsih_set_satl_pending(scmd, false);
 		mpt3sas_base_free_smid(ioc, smid);
 		scsi_dma_unmap(scmd);
 		if (ioc->pci_error_recovery)
@@ -4063,13 +4070,6 @@ scsih_qcmd(struct Scsi_Host *shost, struct scsi_cmnd *scmd)
 	if (ioc->logging_level & MPT_DEBUG_SCSI)
 		scsi_print_command(scmd);
 
-	/*
-	 * Lock the device for any subsequent command until command is
-	 * done.
-	 */
-	if (ata_12_16_cmd(scmd))
-		scsi_internal_device_block(scmd->device);
-
 	sas_device_priv_data = scmd->device->hostdata;
 	if (!sas_device_priv_data || !sas_device_priv_data->sas_target) {
 		scmd->result = DID_NO_CONNECT << 16;
@@ -4083,6 +4083,19 @@ scsih_qcmd(struct Scsi_Host *shost, struct scsi_cmnd *scmd)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Bug work around for firmware SATL handling.  The loop
+	 * is based on atomic operations and ensures consistency
+	 * since we're lockless at this point
+	 */
+	do {
+		if (test_bit(0, &sas_device_priv_data->ata_command_pending)) {
+			scmd->result = SAM_STAT_BUSY;
+			scmd->scsi_done(scmd);
+			return 0;
+		}
+	} while (_scsih_set_satl_pending(scmd, true));
+
 	sas_target_priv_data = sas_device_priv_data->sas_target;
 
 	/* invalid device handle */
@@ -4650,8 +4663,7 @@ _scsih_io_done(struct MPT3SAS_ADAPTER *ioc, u16 smid, u8 msix_index, u32 reply)
 	if (scmd == NULL)
 		return 1;
 
-	if (ata_12_16_cmd(scmd))
-		scsi_internal_device_unblock(scmd->device, SDEV_RUNNING);
+	_scsih_set_satl_pending(scmd, false);
 
 	mpi_request = mpt3sas_base_get_msg_frame(ioc, smid);