diff --git a/hw/scsi/esp.c b/hw/scsi/esp.c
index 000e45a624..18d4d56392 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/esp.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/esp.c
@@ -481,7 +481,6 @@ static void esp_dma_done(ESPState *s)
 {
     s->rregs[ESP_RSTAT] |= STAT_TC;
     s->rregs[ESP_RINTR] |= INTR_BS;
-    s->rregs[ESP_RSEQ] = 0;
     s->rregs[ESP_RFLAGS] = 0;
     esp_set_tc(s, 0);
     esp_raise_irq(s);
@@ -917,7 +916,15 @@ uint64_t esp_reg_read(ESPState *s, uint32_t saddr)
         val = s->rregs[ESP_RINTR];
         s->rregs[ESP_RINTR] = 0;
         s->rregs[ESP_RSTAT] &= ~STAT_TC;
-        s->rregs[ESP_RSEQ] = SEQ_0;
+        /*
+         * According to the datasheet ESP_RSEQ should be cleared, but as the
+         * emulation currently defers information transfers to the next TI
+         * command leave it for now so that pedantic guests such as the old
+         * Linux 2.6 driver see the correct flags before the next SCSI phase
+         * transition.
+         *
+         * s->rregs[ESP_RSEQ] = SEQ_0;
+         */
         esp_lower_irq(s);
         break;
     case ESP_TCHI: