diff --git a/fs/btrfs/volumes.c b/fs/btrfs/volumes.c
index a89243a57fde..a541cd30c6b8 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/volumes.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/volumes.c
@@ -3644,7 +3644,7 @@ static int insert_balance_item(struct btrfs_fs_info *fs_info,
 	struct btrfs_path *path;
 	struct extent_buffer *leaf;
 	struct btrfs_key key;
-	int ret, err;
+	int ret;
 
 	path = btrfs_alloc_path();
 	if (!path)
@@ -3679,9 +3679,11 @@ static int insert_balance_item(struct btrfs_fs_info *fs_info,
 	btrfs_set_balance_flags(leaf, item, bctl->flags);
 out:
 	btrfs_free_path(path);
-	err = btrfs_commit_transaction(trans);
-	if (err && !ret)
-		ret = err;
+	if (ret == 0)
+		ret = btrfs_commit_transaction(trans);
+	else
+		btrfs_end_transaction(trans);
+
 	return ret;
 }