diff --git a/fs/hostfs/hostfs_kern.c b/fs/hostfs/hostfs_kern.c
index 79783a0..8130ce9 100644
--- a/fs/hostfs/hostfs_kern.c
+++ b/fs/hostfs/hostfs_kern.c
@@ -622,11 +622,12 @@
 	char *file;
 	int err;
 
-	if ((file = dentry_name(dentry)) == NULL)
-		return -ENOMEM;
 	if (append)
 		return -EPERM;
 
+	if ((file = dentry_name(dentry)) == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
 	err = unlink_file(file);
 	__putname(file);
 	return err;