diff --git a/fs/nfs/pnfs.c b/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
index d93942fa3817..bcc3addec3c5 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
@@ -1211,7 +1211,7 @@ _pnfs_return_layout(struct inode *ino)
 	LIST_HEAD(tmp_list);
 	nfs4_stateid stateid;
 	int status = 0;
-	bool send;
+	bool send, valid_layout;
 
 	dprintk("NFS: %s for inode %lu\n", __func__, ino->i_ino);
 
@@ -1232,6 +1232,7 @@ _pnfs_return_layout(struct inode *ino)
 			goto out_put_layout_hdr;
 		spin_lock(&ino->i_lock);
 	}
+	valid_layout = pnfs_layout_is_valid(lo);
 	pnfs_clear_layoutcommit(ino, &tmp_list);
 	pnfs_mark_matching_lsegs_invalid(lo, &tmp_list, NULL, 0);
 
@@ -1245,7 +1246,8 @@ _pnfs_return_layout(struct inode *ino)
 	}
 
 	/* Don't send a LAYOUTRETURN if list was initially empty */
-	if (!test_bit(NFS_LAYOUT_RETURN_REQUESTED, &lo->plh_flags)) {
+	if (!test_bit(NFS_LAYOUT_RETURN_REQUESTED, &lo->plh_flags) ||
+			!valid_layout) {
 		spin_unlock(&ino->i_lock);
 		dprintk("NFS: %s no layout segments to return\n", __func__);
 		goto out_put_layout_hdr;