diff --git a/drivers/md/md.c b/drivers/md/md.c
index 9712b2e97be4..cefd63daff31 100644
--- a/drivers/md/md.c
+++ b/drivers/md/md.c
@@ -2109,12 +2109,18 @@ static void md_update_sb(mddev_t * mddev, int force_change)
 		if (!mddev->in_sync || mddev->recovery_cp != MaxSector) { /* not clean */
 			/* .. if the array isn't clean, an 'even' event must also go
 			 * to spares. */
-			if ((mddev->events&1)==0)
+			if ((mddev->events&1)==0) {
 				nospares = 0;
+				sync_req = 2; /* force a second update to get the
+					       * even/odd in sync */
+			}
 		} else {
 			/* otherwise an 'odd' event must go to spares */
-			if ((mddev->events&1))
+			if ((mddev->events&1)) {
 				nospares = 0;
+				sync_req = 2; /* force a second update to get the
+					       * even/odd in sync */
+			}
 		}
 	}