diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmmaster.c b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmmaster.c
index 3e04279446e8..9c3e0f13ca87 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmmaster.c
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmmaster.c
@@ -2616,7 +2616,9 @@ static int dlm_migrate_lockres(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm,
 	 * otherwise the assert_master from the new
 	 * master will destroy this.
 	 */
-	dlm_get_mle_inuse(mle);
+	if (ret != -EEXIST)
+		dlm_get_mle_inuse(mle);
+
 	spin_unlock(&dlm->master_lock);
 	spin_unlock(&dlm->spinlock);