--- x/fs/afs/cell.c
+++ y/fs/afs/cell.c
@@ -198,11 +198,11 @@ static struct afs_cell *afs_alloc_cell(s
 	cell->dns_source = vllist->source;
 	cell->dns_status = vllist->status;
 	smp_store_release(&cell->dns_lookup_count, 1); /* vs source/status */
-	atomic_inc(&net->cells_outstanding);
 	ret = idr_alloc_cyclic(&net->cells_dyn_ino, cell,
 			       2, INT_MAX / 2, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto error;
+	atomic_inc(&net->cells_outstanding);
 	cell->dynroot_ino = ret;
 	cell->debug_id = atomic_inc_return(&cell_debug_id);