A method begins or continues by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN) determining an error with a first write request in a first zone of a plurality of zones of a memory device of a storage unit of DSN, where the first zone includes a first set of sequential blocks that are in a first logical and physical location of the memory device. The method continues with the computing device abandoning pending write requests to the first zone. The method continues with reassigning the first write request to a second zone of the memory device, where the second zone includes a second set of sequential blocks that are in a second logical and physical location of the memory device.