diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index 976fc323272e..84f1ec3b4a5d 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -1873,7 +1873,7 @@ exit_parent:
 
 do_link:
 	error = -ELOOP;
-	if (flag & O_NOFOLLOW)
+	if ((flag & O_NOFOLLOW) || count++ == 32)
 		goto exit_dput;
 	/*
 	 * This is subtle. Instead of calling do_follow_link() we do the
@@ -1915,11 +1915,6 @@ do_link:
 		__putname(nd.last.name);
 		goto exit;
 	}
-	error = -ELOOP;
-	if (count++==32) {
-		__putname(nd.last.name);
-		goto exit;
-	}
 	filp = do_last(&nd, &path, open_flag, flag, acc_mode, mode,
 		       pathname, &is_link);
 	__putname(nd.last.name);