diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index 1f561dc495a1..def63e7c058d 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -2069,11 +2069,7 @@ out_unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&dir->d_inode->i_mutex);
 	dput(nd->path.dentry);
 	nd->path.dentry = path->dentry;
-
-	if (error)
-		return error;
-	/* Don't check for write permission, don't truncate */
-	return may_open(&nd->path, 0, open_flag & ~O_TRUNC);
+	return error;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -2239,6 +2235,12 @@ static struct file *do_last(struct nameidata *nd, struct path *path,
 			mnt_drop_write(nd->path.mnt);
 			goto exit;
 		}
+		/* Don't check for write permission, don't truncate */
+		error = may_open(&nd->path, 0, op->open_flag & ~O_TRUNC);
+		if (error) {
+			mnt_drop_write(nd->path.mnt);
+			goto exit;
+		}
 		filp = nameidata_to_filp(nd);
 		mnt_drop_write(nd->path.mnt);
 		path_put(&nd->path);