diff --git a/src/system/kernel/fs/vfs_request_io.cpp b/src/system/kernel/fs/vfs_request_io.cpp
index 7c0d634e46..a2efa11a06 100644
--- a/src/system/kernel/fs/vfs_request_io.cpp
+++ b/src/system/kernel/fs/vfs_request_io.cpp
@@ -410,6 +410,11 @@ vfs_vnode_io(struct vnode* vnode, void* cookie, io_request* request)
 		return synchronous_io(request, io);
 	}
 
+	if (result != B_OK && !request->IsFinished()) {
+		// The request failed, but its owner has not been notified yet
+		request->SetStatusAndNotify(result);
+	}
+
 	return result;
 }