diff --git a/fs/xattr.c b/fs/xattr.c
index f1ef94974dea..4be2e7666d02 100644
--- a/fs/xattr.c
+++ b/fs/xattr.c
@@ -46,18 +46,22 @@ xattr_permission(struct inode *inode, const char *name, int mask)
 		return 0;
 
 	/*
-	 * The trusted.* namespace can only be accessed by a privileged user.
+	 * The trusted.* namespace can only be accessed by privileged users.
 	 */
-	if (!strncmp(name, XATTR_TRUSTED_PREFIX, XATTR_TRUSTED_PREFIX_LEN))
-		return (capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN) ? 0 : -EPERM);
+	if (!strncmp(name, XATTR_TRUSTED_PREFIX, XATTR_TRUSTED_PREFIX_LEN)) {
+		if (!capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
+			return (mask & MAY_WRITE) ? -EPERM : -ENODATA;
+		return 0;
+	}
 
-	/* In user.* namespace, only regular files and directories can have
+	/*
+	 * In the user.* namespace, only regular files and directories can have
 	 * extended attributes. For sticky directories, only the owner and
-	 * privileged user can write attributes.
+	 * privileged users can write attributes.
 	 */
 	if (!strncmp(name, XATTR_USER_PREFIX, XATTR_USER_PREFIX_LEN)) {
 		if (!S_ISREG(inode->i_mode) && !S_ISDIR(inode->i_mode))
-			return -EPERM;
+			return (mask & MAY_WRITE) ? -EPERM : -ENODATA;
 		if (S_ISDIR(inode->i_mode) && (inode->i_mode & S_ISVTX) &&
 		    (mask & MAY_WRITE) && !inode_owner_or_capable(inode))
 			return -EPERM;