}
 
-static inline unsigned int zero_metapath_length(const struct metapath *mp,
-                                               unsigned height)
+static inline unsigned int metapath_branch_start(const struct metapath *mp)
 {
-       unsigned int i;
-       for (i = 0; i < height - 1; i++) {
-               if (mp->mp_list[i] != 0)
-                       return i;
-       }
-       return height;
+       if (mp->mp_list[0] == 0)
+               return 2;
+       return 1;
 }
 
 /**
        struct gfs2_sbd *sdp = GFS2_SB(inode);
        struct buffer_head *dibh = mp->mp_bh[0];
        u64 bn, dblock = 0;
-       unsigned n, i, blks, alloced = 0, iblks = 0, zmpl = 0;
+       unsigned n, i, blks, alloced = 0, iblks = 0, branch_start = 0;
        unsigned dblks = 0;
        unsigned ptrs_per_blk;
        const unsigned end_of_metadata = height - 1;
                        /* Building up tree height */
                        state = ALLOC_GROW_HEIGHT;
                        iblks = height - ip->i_height;
-                       zmpl = zero_metapath_length(mp, height);
-                       iblks -= zmpl;
-                       iblks += height;
+                       branch_start = metapath_branch_start(mp);
+                       iblks += (height - branch_start);
                }
        }
 
                                        sizeof(struct gfs2_meta_header));
                                *ptr = zero_bn;
                                state = ALLOC_GROW_DEPTH;
-                               for(i = zmpl; i < height; i++) {
+                               for(i = branch_start; i < height; i++) {
                                        if (mp->mp_bh[i] == NULL)
                                                break;
                                        brelse(mp->mp_bh[i]);
                                        mp->mp_bh[i] = NULL;
                                }
-                               i = zmpl;
+                               i = branch_start;
                        }
                        if (n == 0)
                                break;