diff --git a/fs/nfs/dir.c b/fs/nfs/dir.c
index 672368f865ca..3b2f6973e7c5 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/dir.c
@@ -1624,8 +1624,7 @@ static int nfs_rename(struct inode *old_dir, struct dentry *old_dentry,
 		} else if (atomic_read(&new_dentry->d_count) > 1)
 			/* dentry still busy? */
 			goto out;
-	} else
-		nfs_drop_nlink(new_inode);
+	}
 
 go_ahead:
 	/*
@@ -1638,10 +1637,8 @@ go_ahead:
 	}
 	nfs_inode_return_delegation(old_inode);
 
-	if (new_inode != NULL) {
+	if (new_inode != NULL)
 		nfs_inode_return_delegation(new_inode);
-		d_delete(new_dentry);
-	}
 
 	error = NFS_PROTO(old_dir)->rename(old_dir, &old_dentry->d_name,
 					   new_dir, &new_dentry->d_name);
@@ -1650,6 +1647,8 @@ out:
 	if (rehash)
 		d_rehash(rehash);
 	if (!error) {
+		if (new_inode != NULL)
+			nfs_drop_nlink(new_inode);
 		d_move(old_dentry, new_dentry);
 		nfs_set_verifier(new_dentry,
 					nfs_save_change_attribute(new_dir));