diff --git a/drivers/md/md.c b/drivers/md/md.c
index 225815197a3d..64f97168cefa 100644
--- a/drivers/md/md.c
+++ b/drivers/md/md.c
@@ -2108,6 +2108,8 @@ repeat:
 	if (!mddev->persistent) {
 		clear_bit(MD_CHANGE_CLEAN, &mddev->flags);
 		clear_bit(MD_CHANGE_DEVS, &mddev->flags);
+		if (!mddev->external)
+			clear_bit(MD_CHANGE_PENDING, &mddev->flags);
 		wake_up(&mddev->sb_wait);
 		return;
 	}