diff --git a/io_uring/io_uring.c b/io_uring/io_uring.c
index 78c677869308..ce4969d3e20d 100644
--- a/io_uring/io_uring.c
+++ b/io_uring/io_uring.c
@@ -1597,7 +1597,7 @@ int io_req_prep_async(struct io_kiocb *req)
 	const struct io_op_def *def = &io_op_defs[req->opcode];
 
 	/* assign early for deferred execution for non-fixed file */
-	if (def->needs_file && !(req->flags & REQ_F_FIXED_FILE))
+	if (def->needs_file && !(req->flags & REQ_F_FIXED_FILE) && !req->file)
 		req->file = io_file_get_normal(req, req->cqe.fd);
 	if (!def->prep_async)
 		return 0;