diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c b/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c
index 4cc72be28c73..13ede6e30909 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c
@@ -1349,7 +1349,7 @@ static int nvme_tcp_try_recv(struct nvme_tcp_queue *queue)
 	queue->nr_cqe = 0;
 	consumed = sock->ops->read_sock(sk, &rd_desc, nvme_tcp_recv_skb);
 	release_sock(sk);
-	return consumed;
+	return consumed == -EAGAIN ? 0 : consumed;
 }
 
 static void nvme_tcp_io_work(struct work_struct *w)
@@ -1377,6 +1377,11 @@ static void nvme_tcp_io_work(struct work_struct *w)
 		else if (unlikely(result < 0))
 			return;
 
+		/* did we get some space after spending time in recv? */
+		if (nvme_tcp_queue_has_pending(queue) &&
+		    sk_stream_is_writeable(queue->sock->sk))
+			pending = true;
+
 		if (!pending || !queue->rd_enabled)
 			return;