diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
index fb9636cc927c..5d8d12746e6e 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
@@ -528,7 +528,14 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_addname(xfs_da_args_t *args)
 		if (args->flags & ATTR_CREATE)
 			return retval;
 		retval = xfs_attr_shortform_remove(args);
-		ASSERT(retval == 0);
+		if (retval)
+			return retval;
+		/*
+		 * Since we have removed the old attr, clear ATTR_REPLACE so
+		 * that the leaf format add routine won't trip over the attr
+		 * not being around.
+		 */
+		args->flags &= ~ATTR_REPLACE;
 	}
 
 	if (args->namelen >= XFS_ATTR_SF_ENTSIZE_MAX ||