diff --git a/fs/jbd2/transaction.c b/fs/jbd2/transaction.c
index cbc4785462f5..834fe30b79ff 100644
--- a/fs/jbd2/transaction.c
+++ b/fs/jbd2/transaction.c
@@ -1528,7 +1528,6 @@ int jbd2_journal_dirty_metadata(handle_t *handle, struct buffer_head *bh)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	journal = transaction->t_journal;
 	spin_lock(&jh->b_state_lock);
 
 	if (is_handle_aborted(handle)) {
@@ -1543,6 +1542,8 @@ int jbd2_journal_dirty_metadata(handle_t *handle, struct buffer_head *bh)
 		goto out_unlock_bh;
 	}
 
+	journal = transaction->t_journal;
+
 	if (jh->b_modified == 0) {
 		/*
 		 * This buffer's got modified and becoming part