diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c
index a627cb951dc61..f779cca2346f3 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c
@@ -552,7 +552,8 @@ xfs_inode_item_push(
 		if (!xfs_buf_delwri_queue(bp, buffer_list))
 			rval = XFS_ITEM_FLUSHING;
 		xfs_buf_relse(bp);
-	}
+	} else if (error == -EAGAIN)
+		rval = XFS_ITEM_LOCKED;
 
 	spin_lock(&lip->li_ailp->ail_lock);
 out_unlock: