diff --git a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
index a4cb4b642987..94ceb1e0b354 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
@@ -2100,6 +2100,7 @@ int btrfs_search_slot(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans, struct btrfs_root *root,
 	u8 lowest_level = 0;
 	int min_write_lock_level;
 	int prev_cmp;
+	int root_level;
 
 	might_sleep();
 
@@ -2157,6 +2158,7 @@ int btrfs_search_slot(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans, struct btrfs_root *root,
 		goto done;
 	}
 
+	root_level = btrfs_header_level(b);
 	while (b) {
 		int dec = 0;
 
@@ -2299,6 +2301,8 @@ int btrfs_search_slot(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans, struct btrfs_root *root,
 						goto done;
 					}
 				} else {
+					if (!p->locks[root_level])
+						goto again;
 					btrfs_tree_read_lock(b);
 				}
 				p->locks[level] = BTRFS_READ_LOCK;