diff --git a/lib/maple_tree.c b/lib/maple_tree.c
index d4554c11ec15..94f0053ec3e0 100644
--- a/lib/maple_tree.c
+++ b/lib/maple_tree.c
@@ -1882,10 +1882,9 @@ static inline int mab_calc_split(struct ma_state *mas,
 
 	/* Avoid ending a node on a NULL entry */
 	split = mab_no_null_split(bn, split, slot_count);
-	if (!(*mid_split))
-		return split;
 
-	*mid_split = mab_no_null_split(bn, *mid_split, slot_count);
+	if (unlikely(*mid_split))
+		*mid_split = mab_no_null_split(bn, *mid_split, slot_count);
 
 	return split;
 }