diff --git a/nova/compute/api.py b/nova/compute/api.py
index 28368d910fde..dc332b992f2c 100644
--- a/nova/compute/api.py
+++ b/nova/compute/api.py
@@ -4803,10 +4803,24 @@ class API:
         This method is separated to make it possible for cells version
         to override it.
         """
-        volume_bdm = self._create_volume_bdm(
-            context, instance, device, volume, disk_bus=disk_bus,
-            device_type=device_type, tag=tag,
-            delete_on_termination=delete_on_termination)
+        try:
+            volume_bdm = self._create_volume_bdm(
+                context, instance, device, volume, disk_bus=disk_bus,
+                device_type=device_type, tag=tag,
+                delete_on_termination=delete_on_termination)
+        except oslo_exceptions.MessagingTimeout:
+            # The compute node might have already created the attachment but
+            # we never received the answer. In this case it is safe to delete
+            # the attachment as nobody will ever pick it up again.
+            with excutils.save_and_reraise_exception():
+                try:
+                    objects.BlockDeviceMapping.get_by_volume_and_instance(
+                        context, volume['id'], instance.uuid).destroy()
+                    LOG.debug("Delete BDM after compute did not respond to "
+                              f"attachment request for volume {volume['id']}")
+                except exception.VolumeBDMNotFound:
+                    LOG.debug("BDM not found, ignoring removal. "
+                              f"Error attaching volume {volume['id']}")
         try:
             self._check_attach_and_reserve_volume(context, volume, instance,
                                                   volume_bdm,
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_api.py b/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_api.py
index 64064cf63674..81eed9988da4 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_api.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_api.py
@@ -520,6 +520,36 @@ class _ComputeAPIUnitTestMixIn(object):
             mock_attach.assert_called_once_with(self.context,
                                                 instance, fake_bdm)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(compute_rpcapi.ComputeAPI, 'reserve_block_device_name')
+    @mock.patch.object(
+        objects.BlockDeviceMapping, 'get_by_volume_and_instance')
+    @mock.patch.object(objects.BlockDeviceMappingList, 'get_by_volume')
+    def test_attach_volume_reserve_bdm_timeout(
+            self, mock_get_by_volume, mock_get_by_volume_and_instance,
+            mock_reserve):
+        mock_get_by_volume.side_effect = exception.VolumeBDMNotFound(
+            volume_id='fake-volume-id')
+
+        fake_bdm = mock.MagicMock(spec=objects.BlockDeviceMapping)
+        mock_get_by_volume_and_instance.return_value = fake_bdm
+        instance = self._create_instance_obj()
+        volume = fake_volume.fake_volume(1, 'test-vol', 'test-vol',
+                                         None, None, None, None, None)
+
+        mock_reserve.side_effect = oslo_exceptions.MessagingTimeout()
+
+        mock_volume_api = mock.patch.object(self.compute_api, 'volume_api',
+                                            mock.MagicMock(spec=cinder.API))
+
+        with mock_volume_api as mock_v_api:
+            mock_v_api.get.return_value = volume
+            self.assertRaises(oslo_exceptions.MessagingTimeout,
+                                self.compute_api.attach_volume,
+                                self.context, instance, volume['id'])
+            mock_get_by_volume_and_instance.assert_called_once_with(
+                self.context, volume['id'], instance.uuid)
+            fake_bdm.destroy.assert_called_once_with()
+
     @mock.patch.object(compute_rpcapi.ComputeAPI, 'reserve_block_device_name')
     @mock.patch.object(objects.BlockDeviceMappingList, 'get_by_volume')
     @mock.patch.object(compute_rpcapi.ComputeAPI, 'attach_volume')
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-1960401-504eb255253d966a.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1960401-504eb255253d966a.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ef5582543a2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1960401-504eb255253d966a.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    The `bug 1960401`_  is fixed which can cause invalid `BlockDeviceMappings`
+    to accumulate in the database. This prevented the respective volumes from
+    being attached again to the instance.
+
+    .. _bug 1960401: https://bugs.launchpad.net/nova/+bug/1960401