diff --git a/fs/nfs/pnfs.c b/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
index 9a08fd076e0a..f0379dacf197 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
@@ -1390,7 +1390,7 @@ pnfs_layout_need_return(struct pnfs_layout_hdr *lo)
 		return false;
 	return pnfs_mark_layout_stateid_return(lo, &lo->plh_return_segs,
 					       lo->plh_return_iomode,
-					       lo->plh_return_seq) != EBUSY;
+					       lo->plh_return_seq) != -EBUSY;
 }
 
 static void pnfs_layoutreturn_before_put_layout_hdr(struct pnfs_layout_hdr *lo)