diff --git a/fs/netfs/buffered_read.c b/fs/netfs/buffered_read.c
index e7ad511e494c..004d426c02b4 100644
--- a/fs/netfs/buffered_read.c
+++ b/fs/netfs/buffered_read.c
@@ -687,9 +687,9 @@ int netfs_write_begin(struct netfs_inode *ctx,
 
 	netfs_read_to_pagecache(rreq, NULL);
 	ret = netfs_wait_for_read(rreq);
+	netfs_put_request(rreq, netfs_rreq_trace_put_return);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto error;
-	netfs_put_request(rreq, netfs_rreq_trace_put_return);
 
 have_folio:
 	ret = folio_wait_private_2_killable(folio);