diff --git a/fs/tracefs/event_inode.c b/fs/tracefs/event_inode.c
index 3b785f4ca95e..94518a039a99 100644
--- a/fs/tracefs/event_inode.c
+++ b/fs/tracefs/event_inode.c
@@ -345,10 +345,9 @@ static struct eventfs_inode *eventfs_find_events(struct dentry *dentry)
 		 * If the ei is being freed, the ownership of the children
 		 * doesn't matter.
 		 */
-		if (ei->is_freed) {
-			ei = NULL;
-			break;
-		}
+		if (ei->is_freed)
+			return NULL;
+
 		// Walk upwards until you find the events inode
 	} while (!ei->is_events);