diff --git a/drivers/md/raid5.c b/drivers/md/raid5.c
index a147619498df..d26e5e9bea42 100644
--- a/drivers/md/raid5.c
+++ b/drivers/md/raid5.c
@@ -5721,7 +5721,8 @@ static bool raid5_make_request(struct mddev *mddev, struct bio * bi)
 				do_flush = false;
 			}
 
-			set_bit(STRIPE_HANDLE, &sh->state);
+			if (!sh->batch_head)
+				set_bit(STRIPE_HANDLE, &sh->state);
 			clear_bit(STRIPE_DELAYED, &sh->state);
 			if ((!sh->batch_head || sh == sh->batch_head) &&
 			    (bi->bi_opf & REQ_SYNC) &&