diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/fabrics.c b/drivers/nvme/host/fabrics.c
index 32f61fc5f4c5..8575724734e0 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/fabrics.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/fabrics.c
@@ -565,10 +565,14 @@ bool __nvmf_check_ready(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl, struct request *rq,
 	struct nvme_request *req = nvme_req(rq);
 
 	/*
-	 * If we are in some state of setup or teardown only allow
-	 * internally generated commands.
+	 * currently we have a problem sending passthru commands
+	 * on the admin_q if the controller is not LIVE because we can't
+	 * make sure that they are going out after the admin connect,
+	 * controller enable and/or other commands in the initialization
+	 * sequence. until the controller will be LIVE, fail with
+	 * BLK_STS_RESOURCE so that they will be rescheduled.
 	 */
-	if (!blk_rq_is_passthrough(rq) || (req->flags & NVME_REQ_USERCMD))
+	if (rq->q == ctrl->admin_q && (req->flags & NVME_REQ_USERCMD))
 		return false;
 
 	/*
@@ -577,7 +581,7 @@ bool __nvmf_check_ready(struct nvme_ctrl *ctrl, struct request *rq,
 	 */
 	switch (ctrl->state) {
 	case NVME_CTRL_CONNECTING:
-		if (nvme_is_fabrics(req->cmd) &&
+		if (blk_rq_is_passthrough(rq) && nvme_is_fabrics(req->cmd) &&
 		    req->cmd->fabrics.fctype == nvme_fabrics_type_connect)
 			return true;
 		break;