diff --git a/fs/autofs4/root.c b/fs/autofs4/root.c
index e7396cfdb109..91b11650722e 100644
--- a/fs/autofs4/root.c
+++ b/fs/autofs4/root.c
@@ -392,10 +392,12 @@ static struct vfsmount *autofs4_d_automount(struct path *path)
 		ino->flags |= AUTOFS_INF_PENDING;
 		spin_unlock(&sbi->fs_lock);
 		status = autofs4_mount_wait(dentry);
-		if (status)
-			return ERR_PTR(status);
 		spin_lock(&sbi->fs_lock);
 		ino->flags &= ~AUTOFS_INF_PENDING;
+		if (status) {
+			spin_unlock(&sbi->fs_lock);
+			return ERR_PTR(status);
+		}
 	}
 done:
 	if (!(ino->flags & AUTOFS_INF_EXPIRING)) {