diff --git a/fs/hfsplus/xattr.c b/fs/hfsplus/xattr.c
index 2b0e0ba58139..beedc1a2237a 100644
--- a/fs/hfsplus/xattr.c
+++ b/fs/hfsplus/xattr.c
@@ -172,7 +172,11 @@ check_attr_tree_state_again:
 		return PTR_ERR(attr_file);
 	}
 
-	BUG_ON(i_size_read(attr_file) != 0);
+	if (i_size_read(attr_file) != 0) {
+		err = -EIO;
+		pr_err("detected inconsistent attributes file, running fsck.hfsplus is recommended.\n");
+		goto end_attr_file_creation;
+	}
 
 	hip = HFSPLUS_I(attr_file);