diff --git a/fs/ext4/namei.c b/fs/ext4/namei.c
index 97472088d65a..a1f1e53d0e25 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/namei.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/namei.c
@@ -1401,6 +1401,7 @@ static struct buffer_head * ext4_find_entry (struct inode *dir,
 			goto cleanup_and_exit;
 		dxtrace(printk(KERN_DEBUG "ext4_find_entry: dx failed, "
 			       "falling back\n"));
+		ret = NULL;
 	}
 	nblocks = dir->i_size >> EXT4_BLOCK_SIZE_BITS(sb);
 	if (!nblocks) {