diff --git a/sys/dev/ata/ata-disk.c b/sys/dev/ata/ata-disk.c
index 2f75d5493ea5..46915a71c0d4 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ata/ata-disk.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ata/ata-disk.c
@@ -252,8 +252,7 @@ adstrategy(struct buf *bp)
 
     s = splbio();
     bufqdisksort(&adp->queue, bp);
-    if (adp->controller->active == ATA_IDLE)
-	ad_start(adp);
+    ad_start(adp);
     splx(s);
 }