if (mddev->sb_flags)
                        md_update_sb(mddev, 0);
 
-               if (test_bit(MD_RECOVERY_RUNNING, &mddev->recovery) &&
-                   !test_bit(MD_RECOVERY_DONE, &mddev->recovery)) {
-                       /* resync/recovery still happening */
-                       clear_bit(MD_RECOVERY_NEEDED, &mddev->recovery);
-                       goto unlock;
-               }
-               if (mddev->sync_thread) {
+               /*
+                * Never start a new sync thread if MD_RECOVERY_RUNNING is
+                * still set.
+                */
+               if (test_bit(MD_RECOVERY_RUNNING, &mddev->recovery)) {
+                       if (!test_bit(MD_RECOVERY_DONE, &mddev->recovery)) {
+                               /* resync/recovery still happening */
+                               clear_bit(MD_RECOVERY_NEEDED, &mddev->recovery);
+                               goto unlock;
+                       }
+
+                       if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!mddev->sync_thread))
+                               goto unlock;
+
                        md_reap_sync_thread(mddev);
                        goto unlock;
                }
+
                /* Set RUNNING before clearing NEEDED to avoid
                 * any transients in the value of "sync_action".
                 */