diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/file.c b/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
index 3efc7fd..dde7bb4 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
@@ -191,13 +191,6 @@
 				      | ECRYPTFS_ENCRYPTED);
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&crypt_stat->cs_mutex);
-	if ((ecryptfs_inode_to_private(inode)->lower_file->f_flags & O_RDONLY)
-	    && !(file->f_flags & O_RDONLY)) {
-		rc = -EPERM;
-		printk(KERN_WARNING "%s: Lower persistent file is RO; eCryptfs "
-		       "file must hence be opened RO\n", __func__);
-		goto out;
-	}
 	if (!ecryptfs_inode_to_private(inode)->lower_file) {
 		rc = ecryptfs_init_persistent_file(ecryptfs_dentry);
 		if (rc) {
@@ -208,6 +201,13 @@
 			goto out;
 		}
 	}
+	if ((ecryptfs_inode_to_private(inode)->lower_file->f_flags & O_RDONLY)
+	    && !(file->f_flags & O_RDONLY)) {
+		rc = -EPERM;
+		printk(KERN_WARNING "%s: Lower persistent file is RO; eCryptfs "
+		       "file must hence be opened RO\n", __func__);
+		goto out;
+	}
 	ecryptfs_set_file_lower(
 		file, ecryptfs_inode_to_private(inode)->lower_file);
 	if (S_ISDIR(ecryptfs_dentry->d_inode->i_mode)) {