diff --git a/fs/cifs/cifsfs.c b/fs/cifs/cifsfs.c
index 87658f63b374..be84d49f2406 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/cifsfs.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/cifsfs.c
@@ -927,8 +927,8 @@ static int cifs_clone_file_range(struct file *src_file, loff_t off,
 	struct inode *src_inode = file_inode(src_file);
 	struct inode *target_inode = file_inode(dst_file);
 	struct cifsFileInfo *smb_file_src = src_file->private_data;
-	struct cifsFileInfo *smb_file_target = dst_file->private_data;
-	struct cifs_tcon *target_tcon = tlink_tcon(smb_file_target->tlink);
+	struct cifsFileInfo *smb_file_target;
+	struct cifs_tcon *target_tcon;
 	unsigned int xid;
 	int rc;
 
@@ -942,6 +942,9 @@ static int cifs_clone_file_range(struct file *src_file, loff_t off,
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	smb_file_target = dst_file->private_data;
+	target_tcon = tlink_tcon(smb_file_target->tlink);
+
 	/*
 	 * Note: cifs case is easier than btrfs since server responsible for
 	 * checks for proper open modes and file type and if it wants