diff --git a/fs/ext4/extents.c b/fs/ext4/extents.c
index 82e239a176c7..4f1d994847bd 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/extents.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/extents.c
@@ -2956,14 +2956,17 @@ again:
 			if (err < 0)
 				goto out;
 
-		} else if (sbi->s_cluster_ratio > 1 && end >= ex_end) {
+		} else if (sbi->s_cluster_ratio > 1 && end >= ex_end &&
+			   partial.state == initial) {
 			/*
-			 * If there's an extent to the right its first cluster
-			 * contains the immediate right boundary of the
-			 * truncated/punched region.  Set partial_cluster to
-			 * its negative value so it won't be freed if shared
-			 * with the current extent.  The end < ee_block case
-			 * is handled in ext4_ext_rm_leaf().
+			 * If we're punching, there's an extent to the right.
+			 * If the partial cluster hasn't been set, set it to
+			 * that extent's first cluster and its state to nofree
+			 * so it won't be freed should it contain blocks to be
+			 * removed. If it's already set (tofree/nofree), we're
+			 * retrying and keep the original partial cluster info
+			 * so a cluster marked tofree as a result of earlier
+			 * extent removal is not lost.
 			 */
 			lblk = ex_end + 1;
 			err = ext4_ext_search_right(inode, path, &lblk, &pblk,