if (err)
                        goto out;
 
+               next_node = rb_next(node);
                cache_state(state, cached_state);
                merge_state(tree, state);
                if (last_end == (u64)-1)
                        goto out;
 
                start = last_end + 1;
-               if (start < end && prealloc && !need_resched()) {
-                       next_node = rb_next(node);
-                       if (next_node) {
-                               state = rb_entry(next_node, struct extent_state,
-                                                rb_node);
-                               if (state->start == start)
-                                       goto hit_next;
-                       }
+               if (next_node && start < end && prealloc && !need_resched()) {
+                       state = rb_entry(next_node, struct extent_state,
+                                        rb_node);
+                       if (state->start == start)
+                               goto hit_next;
                }
                goto search_again;
        }
 
                prealloc = alloc_extent_state_atomic(prealloc);
                BUG_ON(!prealloc);
+
+               /*
+                * Avoid to free 'prealloc' if it can be merged with
+                * the later extent.
+                */
+               atomic_inc(&prealloc->refs);
                err = insert_state(tree, prealloc, start, this_end,
                                   &bits);
                BUG_ON(err == -EEXIST);
                if (err) {
+                       free_extent_state(prealloc);
                        prealloc = NULL;
                        goto out;
                }
                cache_state(prealloc, cached_state);
+               free_extent_state(prealloc);
                prealloc = NULL;
                start = this_end + 1;
                goto search_again;