diff --git a/fs/ext4/namei.c b/fs/ext4/namei.c
index 798b3ac680db..e750d68fbcb5 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/namei.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/namei.c
@@ -1399,6 +1399,10 @@ static struct buffer_head * ext4_find_entry (struct inode *dir,
 			       "falling back\n"));
 	}
 	nblocks = dir->i_size >> EXT4_BLOCK_SIZE_BITS(sb);
+	if (!nblocks) {
+		ret = NULL;
+		goto cleanup_and_exit;
+	}
 	start = EXT4_I(dir)->i_dir_start_lookup;
 	if (start >= nblocks)
 		start = 0;