diff --git a/fs/coda/coda_linux.h b/fs/coda/coda_linux.h
index e7b27754ce78..3c2947bba5e5 100644
--- a/fs/coda/coda_linux.h
+++ b/fs/coda/coda_linux.h
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ static __inline__ void coda_flag_inode(struct inode *inode, int flag)
 {
 	struct coda_inode_info *cii = ITOC(inode);
 
+	if (!inode)
+		return;
+
 	spin_lock(&cii->c_lock);
 	cii->c_flags |= flag;
 	spin_unlock(&cii->c_lock);