diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/main.c b/fs/ecryptfs/main.c
index 9f0aa98..101fe4c 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/main.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/main.c
@@ -129,11 +129,10 @@
 		lower_dentry = ecryptfs_dentry_to_lower(ecryptfs_dentry);
 		rc = ecryptfs_privileged_open(&inode_info->lower_file,
 					      lower_dentry, lower_mnt, cred);
-		if (rc || IS_ERR(inode_info->lower_file)) {
+		if (rc) {
 			printk(KERN_ERR "Error opening lower persistent file "
 			       "for lower_dentry [0x%p] and lower_mnt [0x%p]; "
 			       "rc = [%d]\n", lower_dentry, lower_mnt, rc);
-			rc = PTR_ERR(inode_info->lower_file);
 			inode_info->lower_file = NULL;
 		}
 	}