diff --git a/fs/cifs/file.c b/fs/cifs/file.c
index 5fcc10fa62bd..f4a8577c3e91 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/file.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/file.c
@@ -1789,6 +1789,7 @@ refind_writable:
 			cifsFileInfo_put(inv_file);
 			spin_lock(&cifs_file_list_lock);
 			++refind;
+			inv_file = NULL;
 			goto refind_writable;
 		}
 	}