diff --git a/fs/afs/file.c b/fs/afs/file.c
index 14d89fa58fe..8f6e9234d56 100644
--- a/fs/afs/file.c
+++ b/fs/afs/file.c
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ static int afs_readpages(struct file *file, struct address_space *mapping,
 	ASSERT(key != NULL);
 
 	vnode = AFS_FS_I(mapping->host);
-	if (vnode->flags & AFS_VNODE_DELETED) {
+	if (test_bit(AFS_VNODE_DELETED, &vnode->flags)) {
 		_leave(" = -ESTALE");
 		return -ESTALE;
 	}