diff --git a/fs/jbd2/transaction.c b/fs/jbd2/transaction.c
index 436b5369a9f..cf2ffa71a64 100644
--- a/fs/jbd2/transaction.c
+++ b/fs/jbd2/transaction.c
@@ -1121,11 +1121,11 @@ int jbd2_journal_dirty_metadata(handle_t *handle, struct buffer_head *bh)
 		 * of the transaction. This needs to be done
 		 * once a transaction -bzzz
 		 */
-		jh->b_modified = 1;
 		if (handle->h_buffer_credits <= 0) {
 			ret = -ENOSPC;
 			goto out_unlock_bh;
 		}
+		jh->b_modified = 1;
 		handle->h_buffer_credits--;
 	}