diff --git a/block/ioctl.c b/block/ioctl.c
index fd48f82f9f03..0b04661ac809 100644
--- a/block/ioctl.c
+++ b/block/ioctl.c
@@ -318,7 +318,13 @@ int blkdev_compat_ptr_ioctl(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode,
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(blkdev_compat_ptr_ioctl);
 #endif
 
-static bool blkdev_pr_allowed(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode)
+enum pr_direction {
+	PR_IN,  /* read from device */
+	PR_OUT, /* write to device */
+};
+
+static bool blkdev_pr_allowed(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode,
+		enum pr_direction dir)
 {
 	/* no sense to make reservations for partitions */
 	if (bdev_is_partition(bdev))
@@ -326,11 +332,17 @@ static bool blkdev_pr_allowed(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode)
 
 	if (capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
 		return true;
+
 	/*
-	 * Only allow unprivileged reservations if the file descriptor is open
-	 * for writing.
+	 * Only allow unprivileged reservation _out_ commands if the file
+	 * descriptor is open for writing. Allow reservation _in_ commands if
+	 * the file descriptor is open for reading since they do not modify the
+	 * device.
 	 */
-	return mode & BLK_OPEN_WRITE;
+	if (dir == PR_IN)
+		return mode & BLK_OPEN_READ;
+	else
+		return mode & BLK_OPEN_WRITE;
 }
 
 static int blkdev_pr_register(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode,
@@ -339,7 +351,7 @@ static int blkdev_pr_register(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode,
 	const struct pr_ops *ops = bdev->bd_disk->fops->pr_ops;
 	struct pr_registration reg;
 
-	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode))
+	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode, PR_OUT))
 		return -EPERM;
 	if (!ops || !ops->pr_register)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -357,7 +369,7 @@ static int blkdev_pr_reserve(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode,
 	const struct pr_ops *ops = bdev->bd_disk->fops->pr_ops;
 	struct pr_reservation rsv;
 
-	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode))
+	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode, PR_OUT))
 		return -EPERM;
 	if (!ops || !ops->pr_reserve)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -375,7 +387,7 @@ static int blkdev_pr_release(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode,
 	const struct pr_ops *ops = bdev->bd_disk->fops->pr_ops;
 	struct pr_reservation rsv;
 
-	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode))
+	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode, PR_OUT))
 		return -EPERM;
 	if (!ops || !ops->pr_release)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -393,7 +405,7 @@ static int blkdev_pr_preempt(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode,
 	const struct pr_ops *ops = bdev->bd_disk->fops->pr_ops;
 	struct pr_preempt p;
 
-	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode))
+	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode, PR_OUT))
 		return -EPERM;
 	if (!ops || !ops->pr_preempt)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -411,7 +423,7 @@ static int blkdev_pr_clear(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode,
 	const struct pr_ops *ops = bdev->bd_disk->fops->pr_ops;
 	struct pr_clear c;
 
-	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode))
+	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode, PR_OUT))
 		return -EPERM;
 	if (!ops || !ops->pr_clear)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -434,7 +446,7 @@ static int blkdev_pr_read_keys(struct block_device *bdev, blk_mode_t mode,
 	size_t keys_copy_len;
 	int ret;
 
-	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode))
+	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode, PR_IN))
 		return -EPERM;
 	if (!ops || !ops->pr_read_keys)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -486,7 +498,7 @@ static int blkdev_pr_read_reservation(struct block_device *bdev,
 	struct pr_read_reservation out = {};
 	int ret;
 
-	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode))
+	if (!blkdev_pr_allowed(bdev, mode, PR_IN))
 		return -EPERM;
 	if (!ops || !ops->pr_read_reservation)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;