A method for error detection and recovery is provided in which a host controller and host software collaborate together. The host controller may: detect an error condition, set an error interrupt or register, and/or halt task execution or processing at the host controller. The host software may: detect an error condition as a result of the host controller having set the error interrupt or register; performs error handling, and clears the error condition. The host controller then resumes execution or processing of tasks upon detecting that error condition has been cleared by the host software.