diff --git a/fs/netfs/fscache_io.c b/fs/netfs/fscache_io.c
index ad572f7ee897..43a651ed8264 100644
--- a/fs/netfs/fscache_io.c
+++ b/fs/netfs/fscache_io.c
@@ -83,8 +83,10 @@ static int fscache_begin_operation(struct netfs_cache_resources *cres,
 	cres->debug_id		= cookie->debug_id;
 	cres->inval_counter	= cookie->inval_counter;
 
-	if (!fscache_begin_cookie_access(cookie, why))
+	if (!fscache_begin_cookie_access(cookie, why)) {
+		cres->cache_priv = NULL;
 		return -ENOBUFS;
+	}
 
 again:
 	spin_lock(&cookie->lock);