diff --git a/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c b/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c
index c1b7a80b6704..06e770ace073 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/nfs4client.c
@@ -498,9 +498,10 @@ int nfs40_walk_client_list(struct nfs_client *new,
 			prev = pos;
 
 			status = nfs_wait_client_init_complete(pos);
-			spin_lock(&nn->nfs_client_lock);
 			if (status < 0)
-				continue;
+				goto out;
+			status = -NFS4ERR_STALE_CLIENTID;
+			spin_lock(&nn->nfs_client_lock);
 		}
 		if (pos->cl_cons_state != NFS_CS_READY)
 			continue;
@@ -638,7 +639,8 @@ int nfs41_walk_client_list(struct nfs_client *new,
 			}
 			spin_lock(&nn->nfs_client_lock);
 			if (status < 0)
-				continue;
+				break;
+			status = -NFS4ERR_STALE_CLIENTID;
 		}
 		if (pos->cl_cons_state != NFS_CS_READY)
 			continue;