diff --git a/fs/jbd/transaction.c b/fs/jbd/transaction.c
index e1b3c8af4d1767..d5c63047a8b3f8 100644
--- a/fs/jbd/transaction.c
+++ b/fs/jbd/transaction.c
@@ -1314,13 +1314,14 @@ int journal_stop(handle_t *handle)
 	int old_handle_count, err;
 	pid_t pid;
 
-	J_ASSERT(transaction->t_updates > 0);
 	J_ASSERT(journal_current_handle() == handle);
 
 	if (is_handle_aborted(handle))
 		err = -EIO;
-	else
+	else {
+		J_ASSERT(transaction->t_updates > 0);
 		err = 0;
+	}
 
 	if (--handle->h_ref > 0) {
 		jbd_debug(4, "h_ref %d -> %d\n", handle->h_ref + 1,
diff --git a/fs/jbd2/transaction.c b/fs/jbd2/transaction.c
index 149957bef907cd..b6cf2be845a147 100644
--- a/fs/jbd2/transaction.c
+++ b/fs/jbd2/transaction.c
@@ -1314,13 +1314,14 @@ int jbd2_journal_stop(handle_t *handle)
 	int old_handle_count, err;
 	pid_t pid;
 
-	J_ASSERT(transaction->t_updates > 0);
 	J_ASSERT(journal_current_handle() == handle);
 
 	if (is_handle_aborted(handle))
 		err = -EIO;
-	else
+	else {
+		J_ASSERT(transaction->t_updates > 0);
 		err = 0;
+	}
 
 	if (--handle->h_ref > 0) {
 		jbd_debug(4, "h_ref %d -> %d\n", handle->h_ref + 1,