diff --git a/fs/jffs2/readinode.c b/fs/jffs2/readinode.c
index 1caabff9dc91..6d0c766fe801 100644
--- a/fs/jffs2/readinode.c
+++ b/fs/jffs2/readinode.c
@@ -1416,6 +1416,9 @@ void jffs2_do_clear_inode(struct jffs2_sb_info *c, struct jffs2_inode_info *f)
 	int deleted;
 
 	jffs2_xattr_delete_inode(c, f->inocache);
+	if (!f->inocache && !f->metadata)
+		return;
+
 	mutex_lock(&f->sem);
 	deleted = f->inocache && !f->inocache->pino_nlink;