diff --git a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
index 99a881558e8d..93e7b99d7819 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
@@ -3425,19 +3425,7 @@ static void ata_dev_xfermask(struct ata_device *dev)
 	xfer_mask = ata_pack_xfermask(ap->pio_mask,
 				      ap->mwdma_mask, ap->udma_mask);
 
-	/* Apply cable rule here.  Don't apply it early because when
-	 * we handle hot plug the cable type can itself change.
-	 */
-	if (ap->cbl == ATA_CBL_PATA40)
-		xfer_mask &= ~(0xF8 << ATA_SHIFT_UDMA);
-	/* Apply drive side cable rule. Unknown or 80 pin cables reported
-	 * host side are checked drive side as well. Cases where we know a
-	 * 40wire cable is used safely for 80 are not checked here.
-	 */
-        if (ata_drive_40wire(dev->id) && (ap->cbl == ATA_CBL_PATA_UNK || ap->cbl == ATA_CBL_PATA80))
-		xfer_mask &= ~(0xF8 << ATA_SHIFT_UDMA);
-
-
+	/* drive modes available */
 	xfer_mask &= ata_pack_xfermask(dev->pio_mask,
 				       dev->mwdma_mask, dev->udma_mask);
 	xfer_mask &= ata_id_xfermask(dev->id);
@@ -3469,6 +3457,25 @@ static void ata_dev_xfermask(struct ata_device *dev)
 	if (ap->ops->mode_filter)
 		xfer_mask = ap->ops->mode_filter(ap, dev, xfer_mask);
 
+	/* Apply cable rule here.  Don't apply it early because when
+	 * we handle hot plug the cable type can itself change.
+	 * Check this last so that we know if the transfer rate was
+	 * solely limited by the cable.
+	 * Unknown or 80 wire cables reported host side are checked
+	 * drive side as well. Cases where we know a 40wire cable
+	 * is used safely for 80 are not checked here.
+	 */
+	if (xfer_mask & (0xF8 << ATA_SHIFT_UDMA))
+		/* UDMA/44 or higher would be available */
+		if((ap->cbl == ATA_CBL_PATA40) ||
+   		    (ata_drive_40wire(dev->id) &&
+		     (ap->cbl == ATA_CBL_PATA_UNK ||
+                     ap->cbl == ATA_CBL_PATA80))) {
+		      	ata_dev_printk(dev, KERN_WARNING,
+				 "limited to UDMA/33 due to 40-wire cable\n");
+			xfer_mask &= ~(0xF8 << ATA_SHIFT_UDMA);
+		}
+
 	ata_unpack_xfermask(xfer_mask, &dev->pio_mask,
 			    &dev->mwdma_mask, &dev->udma_mask);
 }