diff --git a/drivers/input/serio/hil_mlc.c b/drivers/input/serio/hil_mlc.c
index 65f4e9d62a67..d36e89d6fc54 100644
--- a/drivers/input/serio/hil_mlc.c
+++ b/drivers/input/serio/hil_mlc.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(hil_mlc_unregister);
 static LIST_HEAD(hil_mlcs);
 static DEFINE_RWLOCK(hil_mlcs_lock);
 static struct timer_list	hil_mlcs_kicker;
-static int			hil_mlcs_probe;
+static int			hil_mlcs_probe, hil_mlc_stop;
 
 static void hil_mlcs_process(unsigned long unused);
 static DECLARE_TASKLET_DISABLED_OLD(hil_mlcs_tasklet, hil_mlcs_process);
@@ -702,9 +702,13 @@ static int hilse_donode(hil_mlc *mlc)
 		if (!mlc->ostarted) {
 			mlc->ostarted = 1;
 			mlc->opacket = pack;
-			mlc->out(mlc);
+			rc = mlc->out(mlc);
 			nextidx = HILSEN_DOZE;
 			write_unlock_irqrestore(&mlc->lock, flags);
+			if (rc) {
+				hil_mlc_stop = 1;
+				return 1;
+			}
 			break;
 		}
 		mlc->ostarted = 0;
@@ -715,8 +719,13 @@ static int hilse_donode(hil_mlc *mlc)
 
 	case HILSE_CTS:
 		write_lock_irqsave(&mlc->lock, flags);
-		nextidx = mlc->cts(mlc) ? node->bad : node->good;
+		rc = mlc->cts(mlc);
+		nextidx = rc ? node->bad : node->good;
 		write_unlock_irqrestore(&mlc->lock, flags);
+		if (rc) {
+			hil_mlc_stop = 1;
+			return 1;
+		}
 		break;
 
 	default:
@@ -780,6 +789,12 @@ static void hil_mlcs_process(unsigned long unused)
 
 static void hil_mlcs_timer(struct timer_list *unused)
 {
+	if (hil_mlc_stop) {
+		/* could not send packet - stop immediately. */
+		pr_warn(PREFIX "HIL seems stuck - Disabling HIL MLC.\n");
+		return;
+	}
+
 	hil_mlcs_probe = 1;
 	tasklet_schedule(&hil_mlcs_tasklet);
 	/* Re-insert the periodic task. */
diff --git a/drivers/input/serio/hp_sdc_mlc.c b/drivers/input/serio/hp_sdc_mlc.c
index 232d30c825bd..3e85e9039374 100644
--- a/drivers/input/serio/hp_sdc_mlc.c
+++ b/drivers/input/serio/hp_sdc_mlc.c
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ static int hp_sdc_mlc_cts(hil_mlc *mlc)
 	priv->tseq[2] = 1;
 	priv->tseq[3] = 0;
 	priv->tseq[4] = 0;
-	__hp_sdc_enqueue_transaction(&priv->trans);
+	return __hp_sdc_enqueue_transaction(&priv->trans);
  busy:
 	return 1;
  done:
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ static int hp_sdc_mlc_cts(hil_mlc *mlc)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void hp_sdc_mlc_out(hil_mlc *mlc)
+static int hp_sdc_mlc_out(hil_mlc *mlc)
 {
 	struct hp_sdc_mlc_priv_s *priv;
 
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ static void hp_sdc_mlc_out(hil_mlc *mlc)
  do_data:
 	if (priv->emtestmode) {
 		up(&mlc->osem);
-		return;
+		return 0;
 	}
 	/* Shouldn't be sending commands when loop may be busy */
 	BUG_ON(down_trylock(&mlc->csem));
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ static void hp_sdc_mlc_out(hil_mlc *mlc)
 		BUG_ON(down_trylock(&mlc->csem));
 	}
  enqueue:
-	hp_sdc_enqueue_transaction(&priv->trans);
+	return hp_sdc_enqueue_transaction(&priv->trans);
 }
 
 static int __init hp_sdc_mlc_init(void)
diff --git a/include/linux/hil_mlc.h b/include/linux/hil_mlc.h
index 774f7d3b8f6a..369221fd5518 100644
--- a/include/linux/hil_mlc.h
+++ b/include/linux/hil_mlc.h
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ struct hilse_node {
 
 /* Methods for back-end drivers, e.g. hp_sdc_mlc */
 typedef int	(hil_mlc_cts) (hil_mlc *mlc);
-typedef void	(hil_mlc_out) (hil_mlc *mlc);
+typedef int	(hil_mlc_out) (hil_mlc *mlc);
 typedef int	(hil_mlc_in)  (hil_mlc *mlc, suseconds_t timeout);
 
 struct hil_mlc_devinfo {