goto out;
 
        if (adm_ctx.tconn) {
-               retcode = ERR_INVALID_REQUEST;
-               drbd_msg_put_info("connection exists");
+               if (info->nlhdr->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_EXCL) {
+                       retcode = ERR_INVALID_REQUEST;
+                       drbd_msg_put_info("connection exists");
+               }
+               /* else: still NO_ERROR */
                goto out;
        }
 
                goto out;
        }
 
+       /* drbd_adm_prepare made sure already
+        * that mdev->tconn and mdev->vnr match the request. */
+       if (adm_ctx.mdev) {
+               if (info->nlhdr->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_EXCL)
+                       retcode = ERR_MINOR_EXISTS;
+               /* else: still NO_ERROR */
+               goto out;
+       }
+
        retcode = conn_new_minor(adm_ctx.tconn, dh->minor, adm_ctx.volume);
 out:
        drbd_adm_finish(info, retcode);