diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/file.c b/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
index f0be290..2c2d60d 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
@@ -199,6 +199,20 @@
 		       "file must hence be opened RO\n", __func__);
 		goto out;
 	}
+	if (!ecryptfs_inode_to_private(inode)->lower_file) {
+		BUG_ON(!(crypt_stat->flags & ECRYPTFS_DELAY_PERSISTENT));
+		mutex_lock(&crypt_stat->cs_mutex);
+		crypt_stat->flags &= ~(ECRYPTFS_ENCRYPTED);
+		mutex_unlock(&crypt_stat->cs_mutex);
+		rc = ecryptfs_init_persistent_file(ecryptfs_dentry);
+		if (rc) {
+			printk(KERN_ERR "%s: Error attempting to initialize "
+			       "the persistent file for the dentry with name "
+			       "[%s]; rc = [%d]\n", __func__,
+			       ecryptfs_dentry->d_name.name, rc);
+			goto out;
+		}
+	}
 	ecryptfs_set_file_lower(
 		file, ecryptfs_inode_to_private(inode)->lower_file);
 	if (S_ISDIR(ecryptfs_dentry->d_inode->i_mode)) {