diff --git a/drivers/md/md.c b/drivers/md/md.c
index 03e35386a802..26f17dd24bdf 100644
--- a/drivers/md/md.c
+++ b/drivers/md/md.c
@@ -6163,17 +6163,16 @@ md_attr_store(struct kobject *kobj, struct attribute *attr,
        if (!capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
                return -EACCES;

-       if (entry->store == array_state_store && cmd_match(page, "clear"))
-               kn = sysfs_break_active_protection(kobj, attr);
-
        spin_lock(&all_mddevs_lock);
        if (!mddev_get(mddev)) {
                spin_unlock(&all_mddevs_lock);
-               if (kn)
-                       sysfs_unbreak_active_protection(kn);
                return -EBUSY;
        }
        spin_unlock(&all_mddevs_lock);
+
+       if (entry->store == array_state_store && cmd_match(page, "clear"))
+               kn = sysfs_break_active_protection(kobj, attr);
+
        rv = entry->store(mddev, page, length);

        /*