diff --git a/module/os/linux/spl/spl-kmem-cache.c b/module/os/linux/spl/spl-kmem-cache.c
index 745d03012f9d..21134f476b3c 100644
--- a/module/os/linux/spl/spl-kmem-cache.c
+++ b/module/os/linux/spl/spl-kmem-cache.c
@@ -1018,6 +1018,14 @@ spl_cache_grow(spl_kmem_cache_t *skc, int flags, void **obj)
 	might_sleep();
 	*obj = NULL;
 
+	/*
+	 * Since we can't sleep attempt an emergency allocation to satisfy
+	 * the request.  The only alterative is to fail the allocation but
+	 * its preferable try.  The use of KM_NOSLEEP is expected to be rare.
+	 */
+	if (flags & KM_NOSLEEP)
+		return (spl_emergency_alloc(skc, flags, obj));
+
 	/*
 	 * Before allocating a new slab wait for any reaping to complete and
 	 * then return so the local magazine can be rechecked for new objects.