diff --git a/fs/exfat/dir.c b/fs/exfat/dir.c
index 4fd4ec52b8c0..8d2ae6e33cbf 100644
--- a/fs/exfat/dir.c
+++ b/fs/exfat/dir.c
@@ -299,7 +299,13 @@ int exfat_alloc_new_dir(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *clu)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	return exfat_zeroed_cluster(inode, clu->dir);
+	ret = exfat_zeroed_cluster(inode, clu->dir);
+	if (ret) {
+		exfat_free_cluster(inode, clu);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 int exfat_calc_num_entries(struct exfat_uni_name *p_uniname)