diff --git a/fs/btrfs/ioctl.c b/fs/btrfs/ioctl.c
index f5c1c150d9f3..afbf3ac2079d 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/ioctl.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/ioctl.c
@@ -2186,19 +2186,20 @@ static int btrfs_ioctl_defrag(struct file *file, void __user *argp)
 	struct btrfs_ioctl_defrag_range_args *range;
 	int ret;
 
-	if (btrfs_root_readonly(root))
-		return -EROFS;
+	ret = mnt_want_write_file(file);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
 	if (atomic_xchg(&root->fs_info->mutually_exclusive_operation_running,
 			1)) {
 		pr_info("btrfs: dev add/delete/balance/replace/resize operation in progress\n");
+		mnt_drop_write_file(file);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
-	ret = mnt_want_write_file(file);
-	if (ret) {
-		atomic_set(&root->fs_info->mutually_exclusive_operation_running,
-			   0);
-		return ret;
+
+	if (btrfs_root_readonly(root)) {
+		ret = -EROFS;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	switch (inode->i_mode & S_IFMT) {
@@ -2250,8 +2251,8 @@ static int btrfs_ioctl_defrag(struct file *file, void __user *argp)
 		ret = -EINVAL;
 	}
 out:
-	mnt_drop_write_file(file);
 	atomic_set(&root->fs_info->mutually_exclusive_operation_running, 0);
+	mnt_drop_write_file(file);
 	return ret;
 }