diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 7c25fe4990..8859f9b414 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -2771,7 +2771,7 @@ int bdrv_eject(BlockDriverState *bs, int eject_flag)
 {
     BlockDriver *drv = bs->drv;
 
-    if (bs->locked) {
+    if (eject_flag && bs->locked) {
         return -EBUSY;
     }