diff --git a/fs/cifs/transport.c b/fs/cifs/transport.c
index b1c2f416b9bd..9391cd17a2b5 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/transport.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/transport.c
@@ -655,10 +655,22 @@ wait_for_compound_request(struct TCP_Server_Info *server, int num,
 	spin_lock(&server->req_lock);
 	if (*credits < num) {
 		/*
-		 * Return immediately if not too many requests in flight since
-		 * we will likely be stuck on waiting for credits.
+		 * If the server is tight on resources or just gives us less
+		 * credits for other reasons (e.g. requests are coming out of
+		 * order and the server delays granting more credits until it
+		 * processes a missing mid) and we exhausted most available
+		 * credits there may be situations when we try to send
+		 * a compound request but we don't have enough credits. At this
+		 * point the client needs to decide if it should wait for
+		 * additional credits or fail the request. If at least one
+		 * request is in flight there is a high probability that the
+		 * server will return enough credits to satisfy this compound
+		 * request.
+		 *
+		 * Return immediately if no requests in flight since we will be
+		 * stuck on waiting for credits.
 		 */
-		if (server->in_flight < num - *credits) {
+		if (server->in_flight == 0) {
 			spin_unlock(&server->req_lock);
 			return -ENOTSUPP;
 		}