diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index 3ca34388eda3..62f1b8600ec1 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -4513,6 +4513,11 @@ static struct dentry *lookup_open(struct nameidata *nd, struct file *file,
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (unlikely(create_error) && !dentry->d_inode) {
+		error = create_error;
+		goto out_dput;
+	}
+
 	/* Negative dentry, just create the file */
 	if (!dentry->d_inode && (open_flag & O_CREAT)) {
 		/* but break the directory lease first! */
@@ -4532,10 +4537,6 @@ static struct dentry *lookup_open(struct nameidata *nd, struct file *file,
 		if (error)
 			goto out_dput;
 	}
-	if (unlikely(create_error) && !dentry->d_inode) {
-		error = create_error;
-		goto out_dput;
-	}
 out:
 	if (!IS_ERR(dentry)) {
 		if (file->f_mode & FMODE_CREATED)