diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/file.c b/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
index 2229a74aeeed..b1eaa7a1f82c 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
@@ -313,11 +313,9 @@ static int ecryptfs_fasync(int fd, struct file *file, int flag)
 static long
 ecryptfs_unlocked_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 {
-	struct file *lower_file = NULL;
+	struct file *lower_file = ecryptfs_file_to_lower(file);
 	long rc = -ENOTTY;
 
-	if (ecryptfs_file_to_private(file))
-		lower_file = ecryptfs_file_to_lower(file);
 	if (lower_file->f_op->unlocked_ioctl)
 		rc = lower_file->f_op->unlocked_ioctl(lower_file, cmd, arg);
 	return rc;
@@ -327,11 +325,9 @@ ecryptfs_unlocked_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 static long
 ecryptfs_compat_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 {
-	struct file *lower_file = NULL;
+	struct file *lower_file = ecryptfs_file_to_lower(file);
 	long rc = -ENOIOCTLCMD;
 
-	if (ecryptfs_file_to_private(file))
-		lower_file = ecryptfs_file_to_lower(file);
 	if (lower_file->f_op && lower_file->f_op->compat_ioctl)
 		rc = lower_file->f_op->compat_ioctl(lower_file, cmd, arg);
 	return rc;