diff --git a/block/blk-core.c b/block/blk-core.c
index 20d69f6beb6..15de223c7f9 100644
--- a/block/blk-core.c
+++ b/block/blk-core.c
@@ -366,7 +366,14 @@ void blk_drain_queue(struct request_queue *q, bool drain_all)
 		if (drain_all)
 			blk_throtl_drain(q);
 
-		__blk_run_queue(q);
+		/*
+		 * This function might be called on a queue which failed
+		 * driver init after queue creation.  Some drivers
+		 * (e.g. fd) get unhappy in such cases.  Kick queue iff
+		 * dispatch queue has something on it.
+		 */
+		if (!list_empty(&q->queue_head))
+			__blk_run_queue(q);
 
 		if (drain_all)
 			nr_rqs = q->rq.count[0] + q->rq.count[1];