diff --git a/fs/nfs/pnfs.c b/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
index 5b9145c62fd9..758917463700 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
@@ -1890,7 +1890,7 @@ lookup_again:
 		spin_unlock(&ino->i_lock);
 		lseg = ERR_PTR(wait_var_event_killable(&lo->plh_outstanding,
 					!atomic_read(&lo->plh_outstanding)));
-		if (IS_ERR(lseg) || !list_empty(&lo->plh_segs))
+		if (IS_ERR(lseg))
 			goto out_put_layout_hdr;
 		pnfs_put_layout_hdr(lo);
 		goto lookup_again;