diff --git a/fs/ext2/file.c b/fs/ext2/file.c
index 67fe423c3828..8ddc149d4884 100644
--- a/fs/ext2/file.c
+++ b/fs/ext2/file.c
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ static ssize_t ext2_dio_write_iter(struct kiocb *iocb, struct iov_iter *from)
 		pos = iocb->ki_pos;
 		status = generic_perform_write(iocb, from);
 		if (unlikely(status < 0)) {
-			ret = status;
+			if (!ret)
+				ret = status;
 			goto out_unlock;
 		}