diff --git a/fs/ext4/ialloc.c b/fs/ext4/ialloc.c
index a044a9b77491..ea32d7e1d6e3 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/ialloc.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/ialloc.c
@@ -508,10 +508,12 @@ fallback_retry:
 	for (i = 0; i < ngroups; i++) {
 		grp = (parent_group + i) % ngroups;
 		desc = ext4_get_group_desc(sb, grp, NULL);
-		grp_free = ext4_free_inodes_count(sb, desc);
-		if (desc && grp_free && grp_free >= avefreei) {
-			*group = grp;
-			return 0;
+		if (desc) {
+			grp_free = ext4_free_inodes_count(sb, desc);
+			if (grp_free && grp_free >= avefreei) {
+				*group = grp;
+				return 0;
+			}
 		}
 	}