diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-vdo/dm-vdo-target.c b/drivers/md/dm-vdo/dm-vdo-target.c
index 4b94f5718ed7..0e04c2021682 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-vdo/dm-vdo-target.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-vdo/dm-vdo-target.c
@@ -2296,6 +2296,14 @@ static void handle_load_error(struct vdo_completion *completion)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if ((completion->result == VDO_UNSUPPORTED_VERSION) &&
+	    (vdo->admin.phase == LOAD_PHASE_MAKE_DIRTY)) {
+		vdo_log_error("Aborting load due to unsupported version");
+		vdo->admin.phase = LOAD_PHASE_FINISHED;
+		load_callback(completion);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	vdo_log_error_strerror(completion->result,
 			       "Entering read-only mode due to load error");
 	vdo->admin.phase = LOAD_PHASE_WAIT_FOR_READ_ONLY;
@@ -2740,6 +2748,19 @@ static int vdo_preresume_registered(struct dm_target *ti, struct vdo *vdo)
 		vdo_log_info("starting device '%s'", device_name);
 		result = perform_admin_operation(vdo, LOAD_PHASE_START, load_callback,
 						 handle_load_error, "load");
+		if (result == VDO_UNSUPPORTED_VERSION) {
+			 /*
+			  * A component version is not supported. This can happen when the
+			  * recovery journal metadata is in an old version format. Abort the
+			  * load without saving the state.
+			  */
+			vdo->suspend_type = VDO_ADMIN_STATE_SUSPENDING;
+			perform_admin_operation(vdo, SUSPEND_PHASE_START,
+						suspend_callback, suspend_callback,
+						"suspend");
+			return result;
+		}
+
 		if ((result != VDO_SUCCESS) && (result != VDO_READ_ONLY)) {
 			/*
 			 * Something has gone very wrong. Make sure everything has drained and
@@ -2811,7 +2832,8 @@ static int vdo_preresume(struct dm_target *ti)
 
 	vdo_register_thread_device_id(&instance_thread, &vdo->instance);
 	result = vdo_preresume_registered(ti, vdo);
-	if ((result == VDO_PARAMETER_MISMATCH) || (result == VDO_INVALID_ADMIN_STATE))
+	if ((result == VDO_PARAMETER_MISMATCH) || (result == VDO_INVALID_ADMIN_STATE) ||
+	    (result == VDO_UNSUPPORTED_VERSION))
 		result = -EINVAL;
 	vdo_unregister_thread_device_id();
 	return vdo_status_to_errno(result);
diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-vdo/repair.c b/drivers/md/dm-vdo/repair.c
index 7e0009d2f67d..8aae78bb8a05 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-vdo/repair.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-vdo/repair.c
@@ -1575,9 +1575,7 @@ static int parse_journal_for_recovery(struct repair_completion *repair)
 		if (header.metadata_type == VDO_METADATA_RECOVERY_JOURNAL) {
 			/* This is an old format block, so we need to upgrade */
 			vdo_log_error_strerror(VDO_UNSUPPORTED_VERSION,
-					       "Recovery journal is in the old format, a read-only rebuild is required.");
-			vdo_enter_read_only_mode(repair->completion.vdo,
-						 VDO_UNSUPPORTED_VERSION);
+					       "Recovery journal is in the old format. Downgrade and complete recovery, then upgrade with a clean volume");
 			return VDO_UNSUPPORTED_VERSION;
 		}