diff --git a/fs/btrfs/tree-log.c b/fs/btrfs/tree-log.c
index 858b609e292c..8b66173d9023 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/tree-log.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/tree-log.c
@@ -1073,7 +1073,9 @@ static inline int __add_inode_ref(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans,
 	search_key.type = BTRFS_INODE_REF_KEY;
 	search_key.offset = parent_objectid;
 	ret = btrfs_search_slot(NULL, root, &search_key, path, 0, 0);
-	if (ret == 0) {
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		return ret;
+	} else if (ret == 0) {
 		struct btrfs_inode_ref *victim_ref;
 		unsigned long ptr;
 		unsigned long ptr_end;