diff --git a/src/rgw/motr/sync/motr_sync_impl.cc b/src/rgw/motr/sync/motr_sync_impl.cc
index a44569c53df660..bfb05805fc596c 100644
--- a/src/rgw/motr/sync/motr_sync_impl.cc
+++ b/src/rgw/motr/sync/motr_sync_impl.cc
@@ -119,12 +119,12 @@ int MotrLock::check_lock(const std::string& lock_name,
         return rc;
       }
     }
-    return -EBUSY;
   } else if (rc == -ENOENT) {
     // Looks like lock object is deleted by another caller
     // as part of the race condition 
     return -EBUSY;
   }
+  return -EBUSY;
 }
 
 int MotrKVLockProvider::read_lock(const std::string& lock_name,