diff --git a/fs/sdcardfs/lookup.c b/fs/sdcardfs/lookup.c
index 08f62fb3e075..a0f221501b4c 100644
--- a/fs/sdcardfs/lookup.c
+++ b/fs/sdcardfs/lookup.c
@@ -368,15 +368,17 @@ put_name:
 	dname.len = name->len;
 	dname.hash = full_name_hash(dname.name, dname.len);
 	lower_dentry = d_lookup(lower_dir_dentry, &dname);
+	if (lower_dentry)
+		goto setup_lower;
+
+	lower_dentry = d_alloc(lower_dir_dentry, &dname);
 	if (!lower_dentry) {
-		/* We called vfs_path_lookup earlier, and did not get a negative
-		 * dentry then. Don't confuse the lower filesystem by forcing one
-		 * on it now...
-		 */
-		err = -ENOENT;
+		err = -ENOMEM;
 		goto out;
 	}
+	d_add(lower_dentry, NULL); /* instantiate and hash */
 
+setup_lower:
 	lower_path.dentry = lower_dentry;
 	lower_path.mnt = mntget(lower_dir_mnt);
 	sdcardfs_set_lower_path(dentry, &lower_path);