diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_buf.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_buf.c
index d79002343d0b..e7a7bfbe75b4 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_buf.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_buf.c
@@ -374,17 +374,37 @@ xfs_dinode_verify_fork(
 	/*
 	 * For fork types that can contain local data, check that the fork
 	 * format matches the size of local data contained within the fork.
-	 *
-	 * For all types, check that when the size says the should be in extent
-	 * or btree format, the inode isn't claiming it is in local format.
 	 */
 	if (whichfork == XFS_DATA_FORK) {
-		if (S_ISDIR(mode) || S_ISLNK(mode)) {
+		/*
+		 * A directory small enough to fit in the inode must be stored
+		 * in local format.  The directory sf <-> extents conversion
+		 * code updates the directory size accordingly.
+		 */
+		if (S_ISDIR(mode)) {
 			if (be64_to_cpu(dip->di_size) <= fork_size &&
 			    fork_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL)
 				return __this_address;
 		}
 
+		/*
+		 * A symlink with a target small enough to fit in the inode can
+		 * be stored in extents format if xattrs were added (thus
+		 * converting the data fork from shortform to remote format)
+		 * and then removed.
+		 */
+		if (S_ISLNK(mode)) {
+			if (be64_to_cpu(dip->di_size) <= fork_size &&
+			    fork_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS &&
+			    fork_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL)
+				return __this_address;
+		}
+
+		/*
+		 * For all types, check that when the size says the fork should
+		 * be in extent or btree format, the inode isn't claiming to be
+		 * in local format.
+		 */
 		if (be64_to_cpu(dip->di_size) > fork_size &&
 		    fork_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL)
 			return __this_address;