diff --git a/fs/configfs/file.c b/fs/configfs/file.c
index bbc1252a59f5..c30cf49b69d2 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/file.c
@@ -80,11 +80,11 @@ static int fill_read_buffer(struct dentry * dentry, struct configfs_buffer * buf
 
 	count = attr->show(item, buffer->page);
 
-	buffer->needs_read_fill = 0;
 	BUG_ON(count > (ssize_t)SIMPLE_ATTR_SIZE);
-	if (count >= 0)
+	if (count >= 0) {
+		buffer->needs_read_fill = 0;
 		buffer->count = count;
-	else
+	} else
 		ret = count;
 	return ret;
 }