diff --git a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
index 9601241..b8f7aec 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/ctree.c
@@ -2999,7 +2999,14 @@
 		return ret;
 
 	nritems = btrfs_header_nritems(path->nodes[0]);
+	/*
+	 * by releasing the path above we dropped all our locks.  A balance
+	 * could have added more items next to the key that used to be
+	 * at the very end of the block.  So, check again here and
+	 * advance the path if there are now more items available.
+	 */
 	if (nritems > 0 && path->slots[0] < nritems - 1) {
+		path->slots[0]++;
 		goto done;
 	}