diff --git a/kernel/printk/printk.c b/kernel/printk/printk.c
index b49c6ff6dca0..a1a81fd9889b 100644
--- a/kernel/printk/printk.c
+++ b/kernel/printk/printk.c
@@ -3380,6 +3380,7 @@ static bool __pr_flush(struct console *con, int timeout_ms, bool reset_on_progre
 		diff = 0;
 
 		console_lock();
+
 		for_each_console(c) {
 			if (con && con != c)
 				continue;
@@ -3389,11 +3390,19 @@ static bool __pr_flush(struct console *con, int timeout_ms, bool reset_on_progre
 			if (printk_seq < seq)
 				diff += seq - printk_seq;
 		}
-		console_unlock();
 
-		if (diff != last_diff && reset_on_progress)
+		/*
+		 * If consoles are suspended, it cannot be expected that they
+		 * make forward progress, so timeout immediately. @diff is
+		 * still used to return a valid flush status.
+		 */
+		if (console_suspended)
+			remaining = 0;
+		else if (diff != last_diff && reset_on_progress)
 			remaining = timeout_ms;
 
+		console_unlock();
+
 		if (diff == 0 || remaining == 0)
 			break;