diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_attr.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_attr.c
index c86375378810..01d2072fb6d4 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_attr.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_attr.c
@@ -489,6 +489,13 @@ xfs_attr_remove_int(xfs_inode_t *dp, struct xfs_name *name, int flags)
 	args.total = 0;
 	args.whichfork = XFS_ATTR_FORK;
 
+	/*
+	 * we have no control over the attribute names that userspace passes us
+	 * to remove, so we have to allow the name lookup prior to attribute
+	 * removal to fail.
+	 */
+	args.op_flags = XFS_DA_OP_OKNOENT;
+
 	/*
 	 * Attach the dquots to the inode.
 	 */