diff --git a/net/mptcp/protocol.c b/net/mptcp/protocol.c
index 790feade9bf2..3cbef3b176a4 100644
--- a/net/mptcp/protocol.c
+++ b/net/mptcp/protocol.c
@@ -798,11 +798,8 @@ static bool __mptcp_ofo_queue(struct mptcp_sock *msk)
 
 static bool __mptcp_subflow_error_report(struct sock *sk, struct sock *ssk)
 {
-	int err = sock_error(ssk);
 	int ssk_state;
-
-	if (!err)
-		return false;
+	int err;
 
 	/* only propagate errors on fallen-back sockets or
 	 * on MPC connect
@@ -810,6 +807,10 @@ static bool __mptcp_subflow_error_report(struct sock *sk, struct sock *ssk)
 	if (sk->sk_state != TCP_SYN_SENT && !__mptcp_check_fallback(mptcp_sk(sk)))
 		return false;
 
+	err = sock_error(ssk);
+	if (!err)
+		return false;
+
 	/* We need to propagate only transition to CLOSE state.
 	 * Orphaned socket will see such state change via
 	 * subflow_sched_work_if_closed() and that path will properly