diff --git a/fs/ext4/xattr.c b/fs/ext4/xattr.c
index 146690c10c73..b67a176bfcf9 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/xattr.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/xattr.c
@@ -2158,17 +2158,6 @@ getblk_failed:
 						      ENTRY(header(s->base)+1));
 			if (error)
 				goto getblk_failed;
-			if (ea_inode) {
-				/* Drop the extra ref on ea_inode. */
-				error = ext4_xattr_inode_dec_ref(handle,
-								 ea_inode);
-				if (error)
-					ext4_warning_inode(ea_inode,
-							   "dec ref error=%d",
-							   error);
-				iput(ea_inode);
-				ea_inode = NULL;
-			}
 
 			lock_buffer(new_bh);
 			error = ext4_journal_get_create_access(handle, sb,