diff --git a/vfs.c b/vfs.c
index e1e9d9cb..652f90d3 100644
--- a/vfs.c
+++ b/vfs.c
@@ -2852,6 +2852,7 @@ int ksmbd_vfs_kern_path_locked(struct ksmbd_work *work, char *name,
 					      filepath,
 					      flags,
 					      path);
+			next[0] = '/';
 			if (err)
 				goto out2;
 			else if (is_last)
@@ -2859,7 +2860,6 @@ int ksmbd_vfs_kern_path_locked(struct ksmbd_work *work, char *name,
 			path_put(parent_path);
 			*parent_path = *path;
 
-			next[0] = '/';
 			remain_len -= filename_len + 1;
 		}