diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_buf_item.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_buf_item.c
index 522d450a94b1..df7322ed73fa 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_buf_item.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_buf_item.c
@@ -1018,6 +1018,8 @@ xfs_buf_item_relse(
 	trace_xfs_buf_item_relse(bp, _RET_IP_);
 	ASSERT(!test_bit(XFS_LI_IN_AIL, &bip->bli_item.li_flags));
 
+	if (atomic_read(&bip->bli_refcount))
+		return;
 	bp->b_log_item = NULL;
 	xfs_buf_rele(bp);
 	xfs_buf_item_free(bip);