diff --git a/drivers/ata/libata-scsi.c b/drivers/ata/libata-scsi.c
index 77b415167603..1238062f61a5 100644
--- a/drivers/ata/libata-scsi.c
+++ b/drivers/ata/libata-scsi.c
@@ -242,10 +242,17 @@ void ata_scsi_set_sense_information(struct ata_device *dev,
  */
 static void ata_scsi_set_passthru_sense_fields(struct ata_queued_cmd *qc)
 {
+	struct ata_device *dev = qc->dev;
 	struct scsi_cmnd *cmd = qc->scsicmd;
 	struct ata_taskfile *tf = &qc->result_tf;
 	unsigned char *sb = cmd->sense_buffer;
 
+	if (!(qc->flags & ATA_QCFLAG_RTF_FILLED)) {
+		ata_dev_dbg(dev,
+			    "missing result TF: can't set ATA PT sense fields\n");
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if ((sb[0] & 0x7f) >= 0x72) {
 		unsigned char *desc;
 		u8 len;
@@ -924,10 +931,17 @@ static void ata_to_sense_error(unsigned id, u8 drv_stat, u8 drv_err, u8 *sk,
  */
 static void ata_gen_passthru_sense(struct ata_queued_cmd *qc)
 {
+	struct ata_device *dev = qc->dev;
 	struct scsi_cmnd *cmd = qc->scsicmd;
 	struct ata_taskfile *tf = &qc->result_tf;
 	u8 sense_key, asc, ascq;
 
+	if (!(qc->flags & ATA_QCFLAG_RTF_FILLED)) {
+		ata_dev_dbg(dev,
+			    "missing result TF: can't generate ATA PT sense data\n");
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * Use ata_to_sense_error() to map status register bits
 	 * onto sense key, asc & ascq.
@@ -971,6 +985,13 @@ static void ata_gen_ata_sense(struct ata_queued_cmd *qc)
 		ata_scsi_set_sense(dev, cmd, NOT_READY, 0x04, 0x21);
 		return;
 	}
+
+	if (!(qc->flags & ATA_QCFLAG_RTF_FILLED)) {
+		ata_dev_dbg(dev,
+			    "missing result TF: can't generate sense data\n");
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* Use ata_to_sense_error() to map status register bits
 	 * onto sense key, asc & ascq.
 	 */