diff --git a/fs/smb/server/vfs.c b/fs/smb/server/vfs.c
index eaae67a2f720..396d4ea77d34 100644
--- a/fs/smb/server/vfs.c
+++ b/fs/smb/server/vfs.c
@@ -1249,6 +1249,8 @@ int ksmbd_vfs_kern_path_locked(struct ksmbd_work *work, char *name,
 					      filepath,
 					      flags,
 					      path);
+			if (!is_last)
+				next[0] = '/';
 			if (err)
 				goto out2;
 			else if (is_last)
@@ -1256,7 +1258,6 @@ int ksmbd_vfs_kern_path_locked(struct ksmbd_work *work, char *name,
 			path_put(parent_path);
 			*parent_path = *path;
 
-			next[0] = '/';
 			remain_len -= filename_len + 1;
 		}