diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index d41fab78798b..482414aa558b 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -340,22 +340,14 @@ int generic_permission(struct inode *inode, int mask)
 
 	if (S_ISDIR(inode->i_mode)) {
 		/* DACs are overridable for directories */
-		if (capable_wrt_inode_uidgid(inode, CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE))
-			return 0;
 		if (!(mask & MAY_WRITE))
 			if (capable_wrt_inode_uidgid(inode,
 						     CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH))
 				return 0;
-		return -EACCES;
-	}
-	/*
-	 * Read/write DACs are always overridable.
-	 * Executable DACs are overridable when there is
-	 * at least one exec bit set.
-	 */
-	if (!(mask & MAY_EXEC) || (inode->i_mode & S_IXUGO))
 		if (capable_wrt_inode_uidgid(inode, CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE))
 			return 0;
+		return -EACCES;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * Searching includes executable on directories, else just read.
@@ -364,6 +356,14 @@ int generic_permission(struct inode *inode, int mask)
 	if (mask == MAY_READ)
 		if (capable_wrt_inode_uidgid(inode, CAP_DAC_READ_SEARCH))
 			return 0;
+	/*
+	 * Read/write DACs are always overridable.
+	 * Executable DACs are overridable when there is
+	 * at least one exec bit set.
+	 */
+	if (!(mask & MAY_EXEC) || (inode->i_mode & S_IXUGO))
+		if (capable_wrt_inode_uidgid(inode, CAP_DAC_OVERRIDE))
+			return 0;
 
 	return -EACCES;
 }