diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/inode.c b/fs/ecryptfs/inode.c
index e77a2ec71aa5..0a50942b4378 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/inode.c
@@ -902,8 +902,9 @@ static int ecryptfs_setattr(struct dentry *dentry, struct iattr *ia)
 	mutex_lock(&crypt_stat->cs_mutex);
 	if (S_ISDIR(dentry->d_inode->i_mode))
 		crypt_stat->flags &= ~(ECRYPTFS_ENCRYPTED);
-	else if (!(crypt_stat->flags & ECRYPTFS_POLICY_APPLIED)
-		 || !(crypt_stat->flags & ECRYPTFS_KEY_VALID)) {
+	else if (S_ISREG(dentry->d_inode->i_mode)
+		 && (!(crypt_stat->flags & ECRYPTFS_POLICY_APPLIED)
+		     || !(crypt_stat->flags & ECRYPTFS_KEY_VALID))) {
 		struct vfsmount *lower_mnt;
 		struct file *lower_file = NULL;
 		struct ecryptfs_mount_crypt_stat *mount_crypt_stat;