diff --git a/include/spdk/ftl.h b/include/spdk/ftl.h
index 751e3599c..ff9b1cf3d 100644
--- a/include/spdk/ftl.h
+++ b/include/spdk/ftl.h
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ struct spdk_ftl_conf {
 
 	/* Number of interleaving units per ws_opt */
 	size_t                                  num_interleave_units;
+
+	/* Allow for partial recovery from open bands instead of returning error */
+	bool					allow_open_bands;
 };
 
 /* Range of parallel units (inclusive) */
diff --git a/lib/ftl/ftl_init.c b/lib/ftl/ftl_init.c
index 0bca08243..36d8c6add 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/ftl_init.c
+++ b/lib/ftl/ftl_init.c
@@ -90,6 +90,12 @@ static const struct spdk_ftl_conf	g_default_conf = {
 	/* Number of interleaving units per ws_opt */
 	/* 1 for default and 3 for 3D TLC NAND */
 	.num_interleave_units = 1,
+	/*
+	 * If clear ftl will return error when restoring after a dirty shutdown
+	 * If set, last band will be padded, ftl will restore based only on closed bands - this
+	 * will result in lost data after recovery.
+	 */
+	.allow_open_bands = false,
 };
 
 static void ftl_dev_free_sync(struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev);
diff --git a/lib/ftl/ftl_restore.c b/lib/ftl/ftl_restore.c
index 3ef059ea7..257258c65 100644
--- a/lib/ftl/ftl_restore.c
+++ b/lib/ftl/ftl_restore.c
@@ -573,10 +573,17 @@ ftl_restore_tail_md_cb(struct ftl_io *io, void *ctx, int status)
 	struct spdk_ftl_dev *dev = rband->band->dev;
 
 	if (status) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("%s while restoring tail md. Will attempt to pad band %u.\n",
-			    spdk_strerror(status), rband->band->id);
-		STAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&restore->pad_bands, rband, stailq);
-		restore->num_pad_bands++;
+		if (!dev->conf.allow_open_bands) {
+			SPDK_ERRLOG("%s while restoring tail md in band %u.\n",
+				    spdk_strerror(-status), rband->band->id);
+			ftl_restore_complete(restore, status);
+			return;
+		} else {
+			SPDK_ERRLOG("%s while restoring tail md. Will attempt to pad band %u.\n",
+				    spdk_strerror(-status), rband->band->id);
+			STAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&restore->pad_bands, rband, stailq);
+			restore->num_pad_bands++;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (!status && ftl_restore_l2p(rband->band)) {