diff --git a/fs/nfsd/vfs.c b/fs/nfsd/vfs.c
index a0c2b253818b..7867151ebb83 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/vfs.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/vfs.c
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@ nfsd_cross_mnt(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, struct dentry **dpp,
 
 	exp2 = rqst_exp_get_by_name(rqstp, mnt, mounts);
 	if (IS_ERR(exp2)) {
-		err = PTR_ERR(exp2);
+		if (PTR_ERR(exp2) != -ENOENT)
+			err = PTR_ERR(exp2);
 		dput(mounts);
 		mntput(mnt);
 		goto out;