diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
index 89e42409b237..9a77a5a21557 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
@@ -4166,6 +4166,10 @@ static bool same_lockowner_ino(struct nfs4_lockowner *lo, struct inode *inode, c
 
 	if (!same_owner_str(&lo->lo_owner, owner, clid))
 		return false;
+	if (list_empty(&lo->lo_owner.so_stateids)) {
+		WARN_ON_ONCE(1);
+		return false;
+	}
 	lst = list_first_entry(&lo->lo_owner.so_stateids,
 			       struct nfs4_ol_stateid, st_perstateowner);
 	return lst->st_file->fi_inode == inode;