diff --git a/fs/fs-writeback.c b/fs/fs-writeback.c
index 76597dd8cfe8..80ea03034017 100644
--- a/fs/fs-writeback.c
+++ b/fs/fs-writeback.c
@@ -582,10 +582,13 @@ void wbc_attach_and_unlock_inode(struct writeback_control *wbc,
 	spin_unlock(&inode->i_lock);
 
 	/*
-	 * A dying wb indicates that the memcg-blkcg mapping has changed
-	 * and a new wb is already serving the memcg.  Switch immediately.
+	 * A dying wb indicates that either the blkcg associated with the
+	 * memcg changed or the associated memcg is dying.  In the first
+	 * case, a replacement wb should already be available and we should
+	 * refresh the wb immediately.  In the second case, trying to
+	 * refresh will keep failing.
 	 */
-	if (unlikely(wb_dying(wbc->wb)))
+	if (unlikely(wb_dying(wbc->wb) && !css_is_dying(wbc->wb->memcg_css)))
 		inode_switch_wbs(inode, wbc->wb_id);
 }