diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
index c6299f82a6e4..c15a1debec90 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
@@ -191,6 +191,33 @@ xfs_attr_calc_size(
 	return nblks;
 }
 
+STATIC int
+xfs_attr_try_sf_addname(
+	struct xfs_inode	*dp,
+	struct xfs_da_args	*args)
+{
+
+	struct xfs_mount	*mp = dp->i_mount;
+	int			error, error2;
+
+	error = xfs_attr_shortform_addname(args);
+	if (error == -ENOSPC)
+		return error;
+
+	/*
+	 * Commit the shortform mods, and we're done.
+	 * NOTE: this is also the error path (EEXIST, etc).
+	 */
+	if (!error && (args->flags & ATTR_KERNOTIME) == 0)
+		xfs_trans_ichgtime(args->trans, dp, XFS_ICHGTIME_CHG);
+
+	if (mp->m_flags & XFS_MOUNT_WSYNC)
+		xfs_trans_set_sync(args->trans);
+
+	error2 = xfs_trans_commit(args->trans);
+	return error ? error : error2;
+}
+
 int
 xfs_attr_set(
 	struct xfs_inode	*dp,
@@ -204,7 +231,7 @@ xfs_attr_set(
 	struct xfs_da_args	args;
 	struct xfs_trans_res	tres;
 	int			rsvd = (flags & ATTR_ROOT) != 0;
-	int			error, err2, local;
+	int			error, local;
 
 	XFS_STATS_INC(mp, xs_attr_set);
 
@@ -281,30 +308,10 @@ xfs_attr_set(
 		 * Try to add the attr to the attribute list in
 		 * the inode.
 		 */
-		error = xfs_attr_shortform_addname(&args);
+		error = xfs_attr_try_sf_addname(dp, &args);
 		if (error != -ENOSPC) {
-			/*
-			 * Commit the shortform mods, and we're done.
-			 * NOTE: this is also the error path (EEXIST, etc).
-			 */
-			ASSERT(args.trans != NULL);
-
-			/*
-			 * If this is a synchronous mount, make sure that
-			 * the transaction goes to disk before returning
-			 * to the user.
-			 */
-			if (mp->m_flags & XFS_MOUNT_WSYNC)
-				xfs_trans_set_sync(args.trans);
-
-			if (!error && (flags & ATTR_KERNOTIME) == 0) {
-				xfs_trans_ichgtime(args.trans, dp,
-							XFS_ICHGTIME_CHG);
-			}
-			err2 = xfs_trans_commit(args.trans);
 			xfs_iunlock(dp, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
-
-			return error ? error : err2;
+			return error;
 		}
 
 		/*