diff --git a/fs/9p/vfs_inode.c b/fs/9p/vfs_inode.c
index c95295c65045..e83aa5ebe861 100644
--- a/fs/9p/vfs_inode.c
+++ b/fs/9p/vfs_inode.c
@@ -626,8 +626,7 @@ static struct dentry *v9fs_vfs_lookup(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
 	return NULL;
 
 error:
-	if (fid)
-		p9_client_clunk(fid);
+	p9_client_clunk(fid);
 
 	return ERR_PTR(result);
 }