diff --git a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
index a4cb4b642987..bad4f341d6c3 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
@@ -1832,12 +1832,12 @@ static struct extent_buffer *btrfs_search_slot_get_root(struct btrfs_root *root,
 			b = btrfs_read_lock_root_node(root);
 		}
 		level = btrfs_header_level(b);
-		if (level > write_lock_level)
-			goto out;
 
 		/* Whoops, must trade for write lock */
 		btrfs_tree_read_unlock(b);
 		free_extent_buffer(b);
+		if (level > write_lock_level)
+			goto out;
 	}
 
 	b = btrfs_lock_root_node(root);