diff --git a/fs/nfs/client.c b/fs/nfs/client.c
index 65da2c105f43..0c7008fb6d5a 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/client.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/client.c
@@ -305,9 +305,9 @@ static struct nfs_client *nfs_match_client(const struct nfs_client_initdata *dat
 			spin_unlock(&nn->nfs_client_lock);
 			error = nfs_wait_client_init_complete(clp);
 			nfs_put_client(clp);
+			spin_lock(&nn->nfs_client_lock);
 			if (error < 0)
 				return ERR_PTR(error);
-			spin_lock(&nn->nfs_client_lock);
 			goto again;
 		}