diff --git a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
index 927b692d723c..c6c316fc8379 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libata-core.c
@@ -3653,9 +3653,13 @@ int sata_link_hardreset(struct ata_link *link, const unsigned long *timing,
 	if (check_ready)
 		rc = ata_wait_ready(link, deadline, check_ready);
  out:
-	if (rc && rc != -EAGAIN)
+	if (rc && rc != -EAGAIN) {
+		/* online is set iff link is online && reset succeeded */
+		if (online)
+			*online = false;
 		ata_link_printk(link, KERN_ERR,
 				"COMRESET failed (errno=%d)\n", rc);
+	}
 	DPRINTK("EXIT, rc=%d\n", rc);
 	return rc;
 }