/* read native max address */
        rc = ata_read_native_max_address(dev, &native_sectors);
        if (rc) {
-               /* If HPA isn't going to be unlocked, skip HPA
-                * resizing from the next try.
+               /* If device aborted the command or HPA isn't going to
+                * be unlocked, skip HPA resizing.
                 */
-               if (!ata_ignore_hpa) {
+               if (rc == -EACCES || !ata_ignore_hpa) {
                        ata_dev_printk(dev, KERN_WARNING, "HPA support seems "
-                                      "broken, will skip HPA handling\n");
+                                      "broken, skipping HPA handling\n");
                        dev->horkage |= ATA_HORKAGE_BROKEN_HPA;
 
                        /* we can continue if device aborted the command */