diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-raid.c b/drivers/md/dm-raid.c
index e1dd1622a290..adcfe8ae10aa 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-raid.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-raid.c
@@ -3690,8 +3690,7 @@ static int raid_message(struct dm_target *ti, unsigned int argc, char **argv,
 			set_bit(MD_RECOVERY_INTR, &mddev->recovery);
 			md_reap_sync_thread(mddev);
 		}
-	} else if (test_bit(MD_RECOVERY_RUNNING, &mddev->recovery) ||
-		   test_bit(MD_RECOVERY_NEEDED, &mddev->recovery))
+	} else if (decipher_sync_action(mddev, mddev->recovery) != st_idle)
 		return -EBUSY;
 	else if (!strcasecmp(argv[0], "resync"))
 		; /* MD_RECOVERY_NEEDED set below */