diff --git a/fs/f2fs/data.c b/fs/f2fs/data.c
index 890644cc2e3d7..d04220cc2d260 100644
--- a/fs/f2fs/data.c
+++ b/fs/f2fs/data.c
@@ -653,6 +653,9 @@ static void __f2fs_submit_merged_write(struct f2fs_sb_info *sbi,
 
 	f2fs_down_write(&io->io_rwsem);
 
+	if (!io->bio)
+		goto unlock_out;
+
 	/* change META to META_FLUSH in the checkpoint procedure */
 	if (type >= META_FLUSH) {
 		io->fio.type = META_FLUSH;
@@ -661,6 +664,7 @@ static void __f2fs_submit_merged_write(struct f2fs_sb_info *sbi,
 			io->bio->bi_opf |= REQ_PREFLUSH | REQ_FUA;
 	}
 	__submit_merged_bio(io);
+unlock_out:
 	f2fs_up_write(&io->io_rwsem);
 }