diff --git a/fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c b/fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c
index da6a2bc6bf022..bd4ef43b02033 100644
--- a/fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c
+++ b/fs/jfs/jfs_dmap.c
@@ -1959,6 +1959,9 @@ dbAllocDmapLev(struct bmap * bmp,
 	if (dbFindLeaf((dmtree_t *) & dp->tree, l2nb, &leafidx))
 		return -ENOSPC;
 
+	if (leafidx < 0)
+		return -EIO;
+
 	/* determine the block number within the file system corresponding
 	 * to the leaf at which free space was found.
 	 */