diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wlcore/io.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wlcore/io.h
index 1cd545b0ed1e..fef80adc8bf5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wlcore/io.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wlcore/io.h
@@ -57,14 +57,32 @@ static inline int __must_check wlcore_raw_write(struct wl1271 *wl, int addr,
 						void *buf, size_t len,
 						bool fixed)
 {
-	return wl->if_ops->write(wl->dev, addr, buf, len, fixed);
+	int ret;
+
+	if (test_bit(WL1271_FLAG_SDIO_FAILED, &wl->flags))
+		return -EIO;
+
+	ret = wl->if_ops->write(wl->dev, addr, buf, len, fixed);
+	if (ret)
+		set_bit(WL1271_FLAG_SDIO_FAILED, &wl->flags);
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static inline int __must_check wlcore_raw_read(struct wl1271 *wl, int addr,
 					       void *buf, size_t len,
 					       bool fixed)
 {
-	return wl->if_ops->read(wl->dev, addr, buf, len, fixed);
+	int ret;
+
+	if (test_bit(WL1271_FLAG_SDIO_FAILED, &wl->flags))
+		return -EIO;
+
+	ret = wl->if_ops->read(wl->dev, addr, buf, len, fixed);
+	if (ret)
+		set_bit(WL1271_FLAG_SDIO_FAILED, &wl->flags);
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static inline int __must_check wlcore_raw_read_data(struct wl1271 *wl, int reg,
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wlcore/wlcore_i.h b/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wlcore/wlcore_i.h
index e5a34dd34baf..4273a21cdde1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wlcore/wlcore_i.h
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ti/wlcore/wlcore_i.h
@@ -247,6 +247,7 @@ enum wl12xx_flags {
 	WL1271_FLAG_RECOVERY_IN_PROGRESS,
 	WL1271_FLAG_VIF_CHANGE_IN_PROGRESS,
 	WL1271_FLAG_INTENDED_FW_RECOVERY,
+	WL1271_FLAG_SDIO_FAILED,
 };
 
 enum wl12xx_vif_flags {