diff --git a/fs/exfat/namei.c b/fs/exfat/namei.c
index 95c51b025b91..f340e96b499f 100644
--- a/fs/exfat/namei.c
+++ b/fs/exfat/namei.c
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@ static int exfat_find_empty_entry(struct inode *inode,
 		if (ei->start_clu == EXFAT_EOF_CLUSTER) {
 			ei->start_clu = clu.dir;
 			p_dir->dir = clu.dir;
+			hint_femp.eidx = 0;
 		}
 
 		/* append to the FAT chain */