diff --git a/fs/ext4/xattr.c b/fs/ext4/xattr.c
index 982a1f831e228..6f4215d4806de 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/xattr.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/xattr.c
@@ -2075,12 +2075,13 @@ ext4_xattr_block_set(handle_t *handle, struct inode *inode,
 				 * stable so we can check the additional
 				 * reference fits.
 				 */
-				ref = le32_to_cpu(BHDR(new_bh)->h_refcount) + 1;
-				if (ref > EXT4_XATTR_REFCOUNT_MAX) {
+				ref = le32_to_cpu(BHDR(new_bh)->h_refcount);
+				if (ref >= EXT4_XATTR_REFCOUNT_MAX) {
 					/*
 					 * Undo everything and check mbcache
 					 * again.
 					 */
+					clear_bit(MBE_REUSABLE_B, &ce->e_flags);
 					unlock_buffer(new_bh);
 					dquot_free_block(inode,
 							 EXT4_C2B(EXT4_SB(sb),
@@ -2091,6 +2092,7 @@ ext4_xattr_block_set(handle_t *handle, struct inode *inode,
 					new_bh = NULL;
 					goto inserted;
 				}
+				ref++;
 				BHDR(new_bh)->h_refcount = cpu_to_le32(ref);
 				if (ref == EXT4_XATTR_REFCOUNT_MAX)
 					clear_bit(MBE_REUSABLE_B, &ce->e_flags);