--- linux-2.4.22-pre8.orig/fs/binfmt_elf.c	2003-07-25 08:58:59.000000000 +0200
+++ linux-2.4.22-pre8/fs/binfmt_elf.c	2003-07-25 08:59:07.000000000 +0200
@@ -797,10 +797,8 @@
 	if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED)
 		send_sig(SIGTRAP, current, 0);
 	retval = 0;
+	steal_locks(files, current->files);
 out:
-	if (!retval)
-		steal_locks(files, current->files);
-
 	return retval;
 
 	/* error cleanup */