diff --git a/drivers/scsi/st.c b/drivers/scsi/st.c
index 9f480a1b4a81a..4863802371a70 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/st.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/st.c
@@ -3506,6 +3506,7 @@ static long st_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd_in, unsigned long arg)
 	int i, cmd_nr, cmd_type, bt;
 	int retval = 0;
 	unsigned int blk;
+	bool cmd_mtiocget;
 	struct scsi_tape *STp = file->private_data;
 	struct st_modedef *STm;
 	struct st_partstat *STps;
@@ -3619,6 +3620,7 @@ static long st_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd_in, unsigned long arg)
 			 */
 			if (mtc.mt_op != MTREW &&
 			    mtc.mt_op != MTOFFL &&
+			    mtc.mt_op != MTLOAD &&
 			    mtc.mt_op != MTRETEN &&
 			    mtc.mt_op != MTERASE &&
 			    mtc.mt_op != MTSEEK &&
@@ -3732,17 +3734,28 @@ static long st_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd_in, unsigned long arg)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	cmd_mtiocget = cmd_type == _IOC_TYPE(MTIOCGET) && cmd_nr == _IOC_NR(MTIOCGET);
+
 	if ((i = flush_buffer(STp, 0)) < 0) {
-		retval = i;
-		goto out;
-	}
-	if (STp->can_partitions &&
-	    (i = switch_partition(STp)) < 0) {
-		retval = i;
-		goto out;
+		if (cmd_mtiocget && STp->pos_unknown) {
+			/* flush fails -> modify status accordingly */
+			reset_state(STp);
+			STp->pos_unknown = 1;
+		} else { /* return error */
+			retval = i;
+			goto out;
+		}
+	} else { /* flush_buffer succeeds */
+		if (STp->can_partitions) {
+			i = switch_partition(STp);
+			if (i < 0) {
+				retval = i;
+				goto out;
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
-	if (cmd_type == _IOC_TYPE(MTIOCGET) && cmd_nr == _IOC_NR(MTIOCGET)) {
+	if (cmd_mtiocget) {
 		struct mtget mt_status;
 
 		if (_IOC_SIZE(cmd_in) != sizeof(struct mtget)) {