diff --git a/fs/nfs/pnfs.c b/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
index 5f582713bf05..10fdd065a61c 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/pnfs.c
@@ -1661,6 +1661,18 @@ int pnfs_roc_done(struct rpc_task *task, struct nfs4_layoutreturn_args **argpp,
 		/* Was there an RPC level error? If not, retry */
 		if (task->tk_rpc_status == 0)
 			break;
+		/*
+		 * Is there a fatal network level error?
+		 * If so release the layout, but flag the error.
+		 */
+		if ((task->tk_rpc_status == -ENETDOWN ||
+		     task->tk_rpc_status == -ENETUNREACH) &&
+		    task->tk_flags & RPC_TASK_NETUNREACH_FATAL) {
+			*ret = 0;
+			(*respp)->lrs_present = 0;
+			retval = -EIO;
+			break;
+		}
 		/* If the call was not sent, let caller handle it */
 		if (!RPC_WAS_SENT(task))
 			return 0;