diff --git a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
index a4cb4b642987..09a452920600 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
@@ -2299,6 +2299,8 @@ int btrfs_search_slot(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans, struct btrfs_root *root,
 						goto done;
 					}
 				} else {
+					if (!p->nodes[0])
+						goto again;
 					btrfs_tree_read_lock(b);
 				}
 				p->locks[level] = BTRFS_READ_LOCK;