diff --git a/drivers/md/raid5.c b/drivers/md/raid5.c
index 99b2bbf..d38d235 100644
--- a/drivers/md/raid5.c
+++ b/drivers/md/raid5.c
@@ -5361,7 +5361,7 @@
 	if (mddev->recovery_disabled == conf->recovery_disabled)
 		return -EBUSY;
 
-	if (has_failed(conf))
+	if (rdev->saved_raid_disk < 0 && has_failed(conf))
 		/* no point adding a device */
 		return -EINVAL;