diff --git a/include/linux/backing-dev-defs.h b/include/linux/backing-dev-defs.h
index a307c37c2e6c..072501a0ac86 100644
--- a/include/linux/backing-dev-defs.h
+++ b/include/linux/backing-dev-defs.h
@@ -225,6 +225,14 @@ static inline void wb_get(struct bdi_writeback *wb)
  */
 static inline void wb_put(struct bdi_writeback *wb)
 {
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!wb->bdi)) {
+		/*
+		 * A driver bug might cause a file to be removed before bdi was
+		 * initialized.
+		 */
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (wb != &wb->bdi->wb)
 		percpu_ref_put(&wb->refcnt);
 }