The method and apparatus for cancelling a pending notify command of the present invention includes a mechanism which allows a controlling device to cancel a pending notify command. A controlling device has the ability to cancel a pending notify command, by sending a cancelling command to a target device while the notify command is pending. Preferably, the cancelling command is a status command. Alternatively, the cancelling command is a duplicate notify command. In a still further alternative embodiment, the cancelling command is a notify cancel command. A target device which receives a notify command from a controlling device, first sends an interim response to the controlling device. When the state of the target device changes, the target device then sends a notify response to the controlling device. Before the state of the target device changes, while the notify command is pending, if the target device receives the cancelling command, the target device then cancels the pending notify command.