diff --git a/fs/cifs/transport.c b/fs/cifs/transport.c
index 4d076be..e802106 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/transport.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/transport.c
@@ -687,6 +687,12 @@
 	   to the same server. We may make this configurable later or
 	   use ses->maxReq */
 
+	if (in_buf->smb_buf_length > CIFSMaxBufSize + MAX_CIFS_HDR_SIZE - 4) {
+		cERROR(1, ("Illegal length, greater than maximum frame, %d",
+			   in_buf->smb_buf_length));
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
 	rc = wait_for_free_request(ses, long_op);
 	if (rc)
 		return rc;
@@ -706,17 +712,6 @@
 		return rc;
 	}
 
-	if (in_buf->smb_buf_length > CIFSMaxBufSize + MAX_CIFS_HDR_SIZE - 4) {
-		cERROR(1, ("Illegal length, greater than maximum frame, %d",
-			in_buf->smb_buf_length));
-		DeleteMidQEntry(midQ);
-		mutex_unlock(&ses->server->srv_mutex);
-		/* Update # of requests on wire to server */
-		atomic_dec(&ses->server->inFlight);
-		wake_up(&ses->server->request_q);
-		return -EIO;
-	}
-
 	rc = cifs_sign_smb(in_buf, ses->server, &midQ->sequence_number);
 
 	midQ->midState = MID_REQUEST_SUBMITTED;
@@ -925,6 +920,12 @@
 	   to the same server. We may make this configurable later or
 	   use ses->maxReq */
 
+	if (in_buf->smb_buf_length > CIFSMaxBufSize + MAX_CIFS_HDR_SIZE - 4) {
+		cERROR(1, ("Illegal length, greater than maximum frame, %d",
+			   in_buf->smb_buf_length));
+		return -EIO;
+	}
+
 	rc = wait_for_free_request(ses, CIFS_BLOCKING_OP);
 	if (rc)
 		return rc;
@@ -941,14 +942,6 @@
 		return rc;
 	}
 
-	if (in_buf->smb_buf_length > CIFSMaxBufSize + MAX_CIFS_HDR_SIZE - 4) {
-		mutex_unlock(&ses->server->srv_mutex);
-		cERROR(1, ("Illegal length, greater than maximum frame, %d",
-			in_buf->smb_buf_length));
-		DeleteMidQEntry(midQ);
-		return -EIO;
-	}
-
 	rc = cifs_sign_smb(in_buf, ses->server, &midQ->sequence_number);
 
 	midQ->midState = MID_REQUEST_SUBMITTED;