diff --git a/fs/xfs/scrub/nlinks_repair.c b/fs/xfs/scrub/nlinks_repair.c
index fbc2ff809fc0..09e097e16689 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/scrub/nlinks_repair.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/scrub/nlinks_repair.c
@@ -232,9 +232,14 @@ xrep_nlinks_repair_inode(
 	 * unlinked list, put it on the unlinked list.
 	 */
 	if (total_links == 0 && !xfs_inode_on_unlinked_list(ip)) {
+		if (actual_nlink)
+			clear_nlink(VFS_I(ip));
 		error = xfs_iunlink(sc->tp, ip);
-		if (error)
+		if (error) {
+			if (actual_nlink)
+				set_nlink(VFS_I(ip), actual_nlink);
 			goto out_trans;
+		}
 		dirty = true;
 	}