diff --git a/fs/ceph/mds_client.c b/fs/ceph/mds_client.c
index 0225523297c3..fd8d7ca80e75 100644
--- a/fs/ceph/mds_client.c
+++ b/fs/ceph/mds_client.c
@@ -2254,6 +2254,7 @@ static void handle_reply(struct ceph_mds_session *session, struct ceph_msg *msg)
 	 */
 	if (result == -ESTALE) {
 		dout("got ESTALE on request %llu", req->r_tid);
+		req->r_resend_mds = -1;
 		if (req->r_direct_mode != USE_AUTH_MDS) {
 			dout("not using auth, setting for that now");
 			req->r_direct_mode = USE_AUTH_MDS;