diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
index 780af0ef6bc6..93a1c55cceb2 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
@@ -203,6 +203,66 @@ xfs_attr_try_sf_addname(
 	return error;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Check to see if the attr should be upgraded from non-existent or shortform to
+ * single-leaf-block attribute list.
+ */
+static inline bool
+xfs_attr_is_shortform(
+	struct xfs_inode    *ip)
+{
+	return ip->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL ||
+	       (ip->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS &&
+		ip->i_afp->if_nextents == 0);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Attempts to set an attr in shortform, or converts short form to leaf form if
+ * there is not enough room.  If the attr is set, the transaction is committed
+ * and set to NULL.
+ */
+STATIC int
+xfs_attr_set_shortform(
+	struct xfs_da_args	*args,
+	struct xfs_buf		**leaf_bp)
+{
+	struct xfs_inode	*dp = args->dp;
+	int			error, error2 = 0;
+
+	/*
+	 * Try to add the attr to the attribute list in the inode.
+	 */
+	error = xfs_attr_try_sf_addname(dp, args);
+	if (error != -ENOSPC) {
+		error2 = xfs_trans_commit(args->trans);
+		args->trans = NULL;
+		return error ? error : error2;
+	}
+	/*
+	 * It won't fit in the shortform, transform to a leaf block.  GROT:
+	 * another possible req'mt for a double-split btree op.
+	 */
+	error = xfs_attr_shortform_to_leaf(args, leaf_bp);
+	if (error)
+		return error;
+
+	/*
+	 * Prevent the leaf buffer from being unlocked so that a concurrent AIL
+	 * push cannot grab the half-baked leaf buffer and run into problems
+	 * with the write verifier. Once we're done rolling the transaction we
+	 * can release the hold and add the attr to the leaf.
+	 */
+	xfs_trans_bhold(args->trans, *leaf_bp);
+	error = xfs_defer_finish(&args->trans);
+	xfs_trans_bhold_release(args->trans, *leaf_bp);
+	if (error) {
+		xfs_trans_brelse(args->trans, *leaf_bp);
+		return error;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Set the attribute specified in @args.
  */
@@ -212,48 +272,25 @@ xfs_attr_set_args(
 {
 	struct xfs_inode	*dp = args->dp;
 	struct xfs_buf          *leaf_bp = NULL;
-	int			error, error2 = 0;
+	int			error = 0;
 
 	/*
-	 * If the attribute list is non-existent or a shortform list,
-	 * upgrade it to a single-leaf-block attribute list.
+	 * If the attribute list is already in leaf format, jump straight to
+	 * leaf handling.  Otherwise, try to add the attribute to the shortform
+	 * list; if there's no room then convert the list to leaf format and try
+	 * again.
 	 */
-	if (dp->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL ||
-	    (dp->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS &&
-	     dp->i_afp->if_nextents == 0)) {
+	if (xfs_attr_is_shortform(dp)) {
 
 		/*
-		 * Try to add the attr to the attribute list in the inode.
+		 * If the attr was successfully set in shortform, the
+		 * transaction is committed and set to NULL.  Otherwise, is it
+		 * converted from shortform to leaf, and the transaction is
+		 * retained.
 		 */
-		error = xfs_attr_try_sf_addname(dp, args);
-		if (error != -ENOSPC) {
-			error2 = xfs_trans_commit(args->trans);
-			args->trans = NULL;
-			return error ? error : error2;
-		}
-
-		/*
-		 * It won't fit in the shortform, transform to a leaf block.
-		 * GROT: another possible req'mt for a double-split btree op.
-		 */
-		error = xfs_attr_shortform_to_leaf(args, &leaf_bp);
-		if (error)
+		error = xfs_attr_set_shortform(args, &leaf_bp);
+		if (error || !args->trans)
 			return error;
-
-		/*
-		 * Prevent the leaf buffer from being unlocked so that a
-		 * concurrent AIL push cannot grab the half-baked leaf
-		 * buffer and run into problems with the write verifier.
-		 * Once we're done rolling the transaction we can release
-		 * the hold and add the attr to the leaf.
-		 */
-		xfs_trans_bhold(args->trans, leaf_bp);
-		error = xfs_defer_finish(&args->trans);
-		xfs_trans_bhold_release(args->trans, leaf_bp);
-		if (error) {
-			xfs_trans_brelse(args->trans, leaf_bp);
-			return error;
-		}
 	}
 
 	if (xfs_bmap_one_block(dp, XFS_ATTR_FORK)) {