diff --git a/backend/kodak.c b/backend/kodak.c
index 222b07372..4422105ce 100644
--- a/backend/kodak.c
+++ b/backend/kodak.c
@@ -2787,6 +2787,54 @@ do_cmd(struct scanner *s, int runRS, int shortTime,
   return ret;
 }
 
+static SANE_Status
+wait_scanner(struct scanner *s) 
+{
+  int ret;
+
+  unsigned char cmd[TEST_UNIT_READY_len];
+  size_t cmdLen = TEST_UNIT_READY_len;
+
+  DBG (10, "wait_scanner: start\n");
+
+  memset(cmd,0,cmdLen);
+  set_SCSI_opcode(cmd,TEST_UNIT_READY_code);
+
+  ret = do_cmd (
+    s, 0, 1,
+    cmd, cmdLen,
+    NULL, 0,
+    NULL, NULL
+  );
+  
+  if (ret != SANE_STATUS_GOOD) {
+    DBG(5,"WARNING: Brain-dead scanner. Hitting with stick\n");
+    ret = do_cmd (
+      s, 0, 1,
+      cmd, cmdLen,
+      NULL, 0,
+      NULL, NULL
+    );
+  }
+  if (ret != SANE_STATUS_GOOD) {
+    DBG(5,"WARNING: Brain-dead scanner. Hitting with stick again\n");
+    ret = do_cmd (
+      s, 0, 1,
+      cmd, cmdLen,
+      NULL, 0,
+      NULL, NULL
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (ret != SANE_STATUS_GOOD) {
+    DBG (5, "wait_scanner: error '%s'\n", sane_strstatus (ret));
+  }
+
+  DBG (10, "wait_scanner: finish\n");
+
+  return ret;
+}
+
 /**
  * Convenience method to determine longest string size in a list.
  */
diff --git a/backend/kodak.h b/backend/kodak.h
index 23532f9be..a2fd5e740 100644
--- a/backend/kodak.h
+++ b/backend/kodak.h
@@ -259,6 +259,8 @@ do_cmd(struct scanner *s, int runRS, int shortTime,
  unsigned char * inBuff, size_t * inLen
 );
 
+static SANE_Status wait_scanner (struct scanner *s);
+
 static SANE_Status do_cancel (struct scanner *scanner);
 
 static SANE_Status set_window (struct scanner *s);