An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a storage device's enforcing write recovery of erroneous data. The storage device enforces write recovery leading to a reassignment and re-write for the defective data block by the storage controller at a subsequent write opportunity with a usual write without verify command. The invention enables the storage device to identify, and re-discover the defect by automatically verifying the data written, and report an unrecovered write error to the storage controller on said write command, causing said write recovery to occur.