diff --git a/fs/ext4/inode.c b/fs/ext4/inode.c
index 9115f2807515..4cf2619f007c 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/inode.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/inode.c
@@ -2559,7 +2559,7 @@ static int ext4_writepages(struct address_space *mapping,
 			break;
 	}
 	blk_finish_plug(&plug);
-	if (!ret && !cycled) {
+	if (!ret && !cycled && wbc->nr_to_write > 0) {
 		cycled = 1;
 		mpd.last_page = writeback_index - 1;
 		mpd.first_page = 0;