diff --git a/drivers/mmc/core/block.c b/drivers/mmc/core/block.c
index c35b5b08bb3346..111934838da2c1 100644
--- a/drivers/mmc/core/block.c
+++ b/drivers/mmc/core/block.c
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ static int ioctl_do_sanitize(struct mmc_card *card)
 static int __mmc_blk_ioctl_cmd(struct mmc_card *card, struct mmc_blk_data *md,
 			       struct mmc_blk_ioc_data *idata)
 {
-	struct mmc_command cmd = {};
+	struct mmc_command cmd = {}, sbc = {};
 	struct mmc_data data = {};
 	struct mmc_request mrq = {};
 	struct scatterlist sg;
@@ -550,10 +550,15 @@ static int __mmc_blk_ioctl_cmd(struct mmc_card *card, struct mmc_blk_data *md,
 	}
 
 	if (idata->rpmb) {
-		err = mmc_set_blockcount(card, data.blocks,
-			idata->ic.write_flag & (1 << 31));
-		if (err)
-			return err;
+		sbc.opcode = MMC_SET_BLOCK_COUNT;
+		/*
+		 * We don't do any blockcount validation because the max size
+		 * may be increased by a future standard. We just copy the
+		 * 'Reliable Write' bit here.
+		 */
+		sbc.arg = data.blocks | (idata->ic.write_flag & BIT(31));
+		sbc.flags = MMC_RSP_R1 | MMC_CMD_AC;
+		mrq.sbc = &sbc;
 	}
 
 	if ((MMC_EXTRACT_INDEX_FROM_ARG(cmd.arg) == EXT_CSD_SANITIZE_START) &&