diff --git a/fs/splice.c b/fs/splice.c
index 67dbd85db2078..67ddaac1f5c58 100644
--- a/fs/splice.c
+++ b/fs/splice.c
@@ -1063,13 +1063,17 @@ ssize_t splice_direct_to_actor(struct file *in, struct splice_desc *sd,
 	 */
 	bytes = 0;
 	len = sd->total_len;
+
+	/* Don't block on output, we have to drain the direct pipe. */
 	flags = sd->flags;
+	sd->flags &= ~SPLICE_F_NONBLOCK;
 
 	/*
-	 * Don't block on output, we have to drain the direct pipe.
+	 * We signal MORE until we've read sufficient data to fulfill the
+	 * request and we keep signalling it if the caller set it.
 	 */
-	sd->flags &= ~SPLICE_F_NONBLOCK;
 	more = sd->flags & SPLICE_F_MORE;
+	sd->flags |= SPLICE_F_MORE;
 
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(!pipe_empty(pipe->head, pipe->tail));
 
@@ -1085,14 +1089,12 @@ ssize_t splice_direct_to_actor(struct file *in, struct splice_desc *sd,
 		sd->total_len = read_len;
 
 		/*
-		 * If more data is pending, set SPLICE_F_MORE
-		 * If this is the last data and SPLICE_F_MORE was not set
-		 * initially, clears it.
+		 * If we now have sufficient data to fulfill the request then
+		 * we clear SPLICE_F_MORE if it was not set initially.
 		 */
-		if (read_len < len)
-			sd->flags |= SPLICE_F_MORE;
-		else if (!more)
+		if (read_len >= len && !more)
 			sd->flags &= ~SPLICE_F_MORE;
+
 		/*
 		 * NOTE: nonblocking mode only applies to the input. We
 		 * must not do the output in nonblocking mode as then we