diff --git a/fs/9p/vfs_addr.c b/fs/9p/vfs_addr.c
index 1ac0b3dcc077..fc05bd963506 100644
--- a/fs/9p/vfs_addr.c
+++ b/fs/9p/vfs_addr.c
@@ -136,21 +136,37 @@ static int v9fs_init_request(struct netfs_io_request *rreq, struct file *file)
 
 	if (file) {
 		fid = file->private_data;
-		if (!fid)
-			goto no_fid;
+		if (!fid) {
+			WARN_ONCE(1, "DIAG: v9fs_init_request: file has no fid, "
+			           "inode->i_ino=%llx\n", rreq->inode->i_ino);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
 		p9_fid_get(fid);
 	} else if (S_ISLNK(rreq->inode->i_mode)) {
 		dentry = d_find_any_alias(rreq->inode);
-		if (!dentry)
-			goto no_fid;
+		if (!dentry) {
+			WARN_ONCE(1, "DIAG: v9fs_init_request: symlink inode has no "
+				  "dentry alias, inode->i_ino=%llx\n",
+				   rreq->inode->i_ino);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
 		fid = v9fs_fid_lookup(dentry);
+		if (IS_ERR(fid)) {
+			WARN_ONCE(1, "DIAG: v9fs_init_request: v9fs_fid_lookup failed "
+				"for symlink, err=%ld dentry=%pd4 inode->i_ino=%llx\n",
+			 	PTR_ERR(fid), dentry, rreq->inode->i_ino);
+			dput(dentry);
+			return PTR_ERR(fid);
+		}
 		dput(dentry);
-		if (IS_ERR(fid))
-			goto no_fid;
 	} else {
 		fid = v9fs_fid_find_inode(rreq->inode, writing, INVALID_UID, true);
-		if (!fid)
-			goto no_fid;
+		if (!fid) {
+			WARN_ONCE(1, "DIAG: v9fs_init_request: non-symlink inode has "
+				   "no open/writeback fid, inode->i_ino=%llx\n",
+				   rreq->inode->i_ino);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
 	}
 
 	rreq->wsize = fid->clnt->msize - P9_IOHDRSZ;
@@ -163,11 +179,6 @@ static int v9fs_init_request(struct netfs_io_request *rreq, struct file *file)
 	WARN_ON(rreq->origin == NETFS_READ_FOR_WRITE && !(fid->mode & P9_ORDWR));
 	rreq->netfs_priv = fid;
 	return 0;
-
-no_fid:
-	WARN_ONCE(1, "folio expected an open fid inode->i_ino=%llx\n",
-		  rreq->inode->i_ino);
-	return -EINVAL;
 }
 
 /**