diff --git a/fs/nfs/nfs4filelayoutdev.c b/fs/nfs/nfs4filelayoutdev.c
index 678cb896453..b906d8e55d8 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/nfs4filelayoutdev.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/nfs4filelayoutdev.c
@@ -821,7 +821,8 @@ nfs4_fl_prepare_ds(struct pnfs_layout_segment *lseg, u32 ds_idx)
 		nfs4_wait_ds_connect(ds);
 	}
 out_test_devid:
-	if (filelayout_test_devid_unavailable(devid))
+	if (ret->ds_clp == NULL ||
+	    filelayout_test_devid_unavailable(devid))
 		ret = NULL;
 out:
 	return ret;