diff --git a/fs/ext4/inode.c b/fs/ext4/inode.c
index edb7edc99f71..427f4690ad6d 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/inode.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/inode.c
@@ -3438,6 +3438,9 @@ static ssize_t ext4_ind_direct_IO(int rw, struct kiocb *iocb,
 			 * but cannot extend i_size. Bail out and pretend
 			 * the write failed... */
 			ret = PTR_ERR(handle);
+			if (inode->i_nlink)
+				ext4_orphan_del(NULL, inode);
+
 			goto out;
 		}
 		if (inode->i_nlink)