diff --git a/src/vol/volume.c b/src/vol/volume.c
index 33e9ee510a..7e4b55c2a0 100644
--- a/src/vol/volume.c
+++ b/src/vol/volume.c
@@ -3507,6 +3507,9 @@ attach2(Error * ec, VolId volumeId, char *path, struct DiskPartition64 *partp,
 		FreeVolumeHeader(vp);
 	    } else if (!V_inService(vp)) {
 		Log("Volume %lu offline: not in service\n", afs_printable_uint32_lu(V_id(vp)));
+		/* the volume is offline and should be unattached */
+		*ec = VOFFLINE;
+		error_state = VOL_STATE_UNATTACHED;
 		FreeVolumeHeader(vp);
 	    } else {
 		Log("Volume %lu offline: needs salvage\n", afs_printable_uint32_lu(V_id(vp)));