diff --git a/drivers/md/md.c b/drivers/md/md.c
index 5fcce7371ee9..202deb43b822 100644
--- a/drivers/md/md.c
+++ b/drivers/md/md.c
@@ -8130,6 +8130,15 @@ void md_check_recovery(struct mddev *mddev)
 		int spares = 0;
 
 		if (mddev->ro) {
+			struct md_rdev *rdev;
+			if (!mddev->external && mddev->in_sync)
+				/* 'Blocked' flag not needed as failed devices
+				 * will be recorded if array switched to read/write.
+				 * Leaving it set will prevent the device
+				 * from being removed.
+				 */
+				rdev_for_each(rdev, mddev)
+					clear_bit(Blocked, &rdev->flags);
 			/* On a read-only array we can:
 			 * - remove failed devices
 			 * - add already-in_sync devices if the array itself