diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c
index 6cdbf90c6f7b..d041d47d9d86 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c
@@ -504,6 +504,14 @@ xfs_inode_item_push(
 		goto out_unlock;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Stale inode items should force out the iclog.
+	 */
+	if (ip->i_flags & XFS_ISTALE) {
+		rval = XFS_ITEM_PINNED;
+		goto out_unlock;
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * Someone else is already flushing the inode.  Nothing we can do
 	 * here but wait for the flush to finish and remove the item from
@@ -514,15 +522,6 @@ xfs_inode_item_push(
 		goto out_unlock;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * Stale inode items should force out the iclog.
-	 */
-	if (ip->i_flags & XFS_ISTALE) {
-		xfs_ifunlock(ip);
-		xfs_iunlock(ip, XFS_ILOCK_SHARED);
-		return XFS_ITEM_PINNED;
-	}
-
 	ASSERT(iip->ili_fields != 0 || XFS_FORCED_SHUTDOWN(ip->i_mount));
 	ASSERT(iip->ili_logged == 0 || XFS_FORCED_SHUTDOWN(ip->i_mount));