A cluster having a host connected thereto via a cluster interconnection fabric where a determination is made as to whether an error condition exists in an I/O controller connected to the host via the cluster interconnection fabric. This is achieved by attempting to communicate with the I/O controller a first predetermined time period after an inquiry by an operating system as to whether or not an I/O controller driver stack should be unloaded. Also, the operating system is commanded to unload the I/O controller driver stack upon a determination that the error condition still exists.