diff --git a/fs/minix/bitmap.c b/fs/minix/bitmap.c
index 7da66ca18..18c6fe544 100644
--- a/fs/minix/bitmap.c
+++ b/fs/minix/bitmap.c
@@ -60,11 +60,15 @@ void minix_free_block(struct inode *inode, unsigned long block)
 	}
 	bh = sbi->s_zmap[zone];
 	spin_lock(&bitmap_lock);
-	if (!minix_test_and_clear_bit(bit, bh->b_data))
+	if (minix_test_and_clear_bit(bit, bh->b_data)) {
+		/* Proceed only if the bit was set */
+		mark_buffer_dirty(bh);
+	} else {
 		printk("minix_free_block (%s:%lu): bit already cleared\n",
 		       sb->s_id, block);
+	}
+
 	spin_unlock(&bitmap_lock);
-	mark_buffer_dirty(bh);
 	return;
 }