diff --git a/fs/dcache.c b/fs/dcache.c
index c71e3732e53b..d99736a63e3c 100644
--- a/fs/dcache.c
+++ b/fs/dcache.c
@@ -2690,7 +2690,7 @@ static int __d_unalias(struct inode *inode,
 		struct dentry *dentry, struct dentry *alias)
 {
 	struct mutex *m1 = NULL, *m2 = NULL;
-	int ret = -EBUSY;
+	int ret = -ESTALE;
 
 	/* If alias and dentry share a parent, then no extra locks required */
 	if (alias->d_parent == dentry->d_parent)