diff --git a/net/sunrpc/clnt.c b/net/sunrpc/clnt.c
index f1088ca39d44..b6039642df67 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/clnt.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/clnt.c
@@ -2505,12 +2505,6 @@ call_decode(struct rpc_task *task)
 		task->tk_flags &= ~RPC_CALL_MAJORSEEN;
 	}
 
-	/*
-	 * Ensure that we see all writes made by xprt_complete_rqst()
-	 * before it changed req->rq_reply_bytes_recvd.
-	 */
-	smp_rmb();
-
 	/*
 	 * Did we ever call xprt_complete_rqst()? If not, we should assume
 	 * the message is incomplete.
@@ -2519,6 +2513,11 @@ call_decode(struct rpc_task *task)
 	if (!req->rq_reply_bytes_recvd)
 		goto out;
 
+	/* Ensure that we see all writes made by xprt_complete_rqst()
+	 * before it changed req->rq_reply_bytes_recvd.
+	 */
+	smp_rmb();
+
 	req->rq_rcv_buf.len = req->rq_private_buf.len;
 
 	/* Check that the softirq receive buffer is valid */