diff --git a/fs/smb/client/file.c b/fs/smb/client/file.c
index 8b25d6c9ec5e..5a25635bc62a 100644
--- a/fs/smb/client/file.c
+++ b/fs/smb/client/file.c
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ static void cifs_issue_read(struct netfs_io_subrequest *subreq)
 	return;
 
 failed:
+	add_credits_and_wake_if(rdata->server, &rdata->credits, 0);
 	subreq->error = rc;
 	netfs_read_subreq_terminated(subreq);
 }