diff --git a/mm/slab_common.c b/mm/slab_common.c
index 5d2f24f..622f6b6 100644
--- a/mm/slab_common.c
+++ b/mm/slab_common.c
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
 {
 	struct kmem_cache *s;
 
-	if (slab_nomerge || (flags & SLAB_NEVER_MERGE))
+	if (slab_nomerge)
 		return NULL;
 
 	if (ctor)
@@ -266,6 +266,9 @@
 	size = ALIGN(size, align);
 	flags = kmem_cache_flags(size, flags, name, NULL);
 
+	if (flags & SLAB_NEVER_MERGE)
+		return NULL;
+
 	list_for_each_entry_reverse(s, &slab_caches, list) {
 		if (slab_unmergeable(s))
 			continue;