diff --git a/drivers/scsi/st.c b/drivers/scsi/st.c
index d50bad3a2ce9..fe0618ac9769 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/st.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/st.c
@@ -991,7 +991,10 @@ static int test_ready(struct scsi_tape *STp, int do_wait)
 			scode = cmdstatp->sense_hdr.sense_key;
 
 			if (scode == UNIT_ATTENTION) { /* New media? */
-				new_session = 1;
+				if (cmdstatp->sense_hdr.asc == 0x28) { /* New media */
+					new_session = 1;
+					DEBC_printk(STp, "New tape session.");
+				}
 				if (attentions < MAX_ATTENTIONS) {
 					attentions++;
 					continue;
@@ -3506,6 +3509,7 @@ static long st_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd_in, unsigned long arg)
 	int i, cmd_nr, cmd_type, bt;
 	int retval = 0;
 	unsigned int blk;
+	bool cmd_mtiocget;
 	struct scsi_tape *STp = file->private_data;
 	struct st_modedef *STm;
 	struct st_partstat *STps;
@@ -3619,6 +3623,7 @@ static long st_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd_in, unsigned long arg)
 			 */
 			if (mtc.mt_op != MTREW &&
 			    mtc.mt_op != MTOFFL &&
+			    mtc.mt_op != MTLOAD &&
 			    mtc.mt_op != MTRETEN &&
 			    mtc.mt_op != MTERASE &&
 			    mtc.mt_op != MTSEEK &&
@@ -3732,17 +3737,28 @@ static long st_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd_in, unsigned long arg)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	cmd_mtiocget = cmd_type == _IOC_TYPE(MTIOCGET) && cmd_nr == _IOC_NR(MTIOCGET);
+
 	if ((i = flush_buffer(STp, 0)) < 0) {
-		retval = i;
-		goto out;
-	}
-	if (STp->can_partitions &&
-	    (i = switch_partition(STp)) < 0) {
-		retval = i;
-		goto out;
+		if (cmd_mtiocget && STp->pos_unknown) {
+			/* flush fails -> modify status accordingly */
+			reset_state(STp);
+			STp->pos_unknown = 1;
+		} else { /* return error */
+			retval = i;
+			goto out;
+		}
+	} else { /* flush_buffer succeeds */
+		if (STp->can_partitions) {
+			i = switch_partition(STp);
+			if (i < 0) {
+				retval = i;
+				goto out;
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
-	if (cmd_type == _IOC_TYPE(MTIOCGET) && cmd_nr == _IOC_NR(MTIOCGET)) {
+	if (cmd_mtiocget) {
 		struct mtget mt_status;
 
 		if (_IOC_SIZE(cmd_in) != sizeof(struct mtget)) {
@@ -3756,7 +3772,7 @@ static long st_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd_in, unsigned long arg)
 		    ((STp->density << MT_ST_DENSITY_SHIFT) & MT_ST_DENSITY_MASK);
 		mt_status.mt_blkno = STps->drv_block;
 		mt_status.mt_fileno = STps->drv_file;
-		if (STp->block_size != 0) {
+		if (STp->block_size != 0 && mt_status.mt_blkno >= 0) {
 			if (STps->rw == ST_WRITING)
 				mt_status.mt_blkno +=
 				    (STp->buffer)->buffer_bytes / STp->block_size;