diff --git a/fs/xfs/scrub/attr_repair.c b/fs/xfs/scrub/attr_repair.c
index be627ab655ad..6e6af142f1fb 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/scrub/attr_repair.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/scrub/attr_repair.c
@@ -1427,7 +1427,8 @@ xrep_xattr_rebuild_tree(
 	 * If we didn't find any attributes to salvage, repair the file by
 	 * zapping its attr fork.
 	 */
-	if (rx->attrs_found == 0) {
+	if (rx->attrs_found == 0 &&
+	    (!xfs_has_parent(sc->mp) || xfarray_length(rx->pptr_recs) == 0)) {
 		xfs_trans_ijoin(sc->tp, sc->ip, 0);
 		error = xrep_xattr_reset_fork(sc);
 		if (error)