diff --git a/fs/sysfs/file.c b/fs/sysfs/file.c
index 1bafdf6..fc46333 100644
--- a/fs/sysfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/sysfs/file.c
@@ -168,12 +168,12 @@
 	ssize_t retval = 0;
 
 	down(&buffer->sem);
-	if (buffer->orphaned) {
-		retval = -ENODEV;
-		goto out;
-	}
 	if (buffer->needs_read_fill) {
-		if ((retval = fill_read_buffer(file->f_path.dentry,buffer)))
+		if (buffer->orphaned)
+			retval = -ENODEV;
+		else
+			retval = fill_read_buffer(file->f_path.dentry,buffer);
+		if (retval)
 			goto out;
 	}
 	pr_debug("%s: count = %zd, ppos = %lld, buf = %s\n",