diff --git a/drivers/md/persistent-data/dm-btree.c b/drivers/md/persistent-data/dm-btree.c
index 58b319757b1e..8aae0624a297 100644
--- a/drivers/md/persistent-data/dm-btree.c
+++ b/drivers/md/persistent-data/dm-btree.c
@@ -628,39 +628,40 @@ static int btree_split_beneath(struct shadow_spine *s, uint64_t key)
 
 	new_parent = shadow_current(s);
 
+	pn = dm_block_data(new_parent);
+	size = le32_to_cpu(pn->header.flags) & INTERNAL_NODE ?
+		sizeof(__le64) : s->info->value_type.size;
+
+	/* create & init the left block */
 	r = new_block(s->info, &left);
 	if (r < 0)
 		return r;
 
+	ln = dm_block_data(left);
+	nr_left = le32_to_cpu(pn->header.nr_entries) / 2;
+
+	ln->header.flags = pn->header.flags;
+	ln->header.nr_entries = cpu_to_le32(nr_left);
+	ln->header.max_entries = pn->header.max_entries;
+	ln->header.value_size = pn->header.value_size;
+	memcpy(ln->keys, pn->keys, nr_left * sizeof(pn->keys[0]));
+	memcpy(value_ptr(ln, 0), value_ptr(pn, 0), nr_left * size);
+
+	/* create & init the right block */
 	r = new_block(s->info, &right);
 	if (r < 0) {
 		unlock_block(s->info, left);
 		return r;
 	}
 
-	pn = dm_block_data(new_parent);
-	ln = dm_block_data(left);
 	rn = dm_block_data(right);
-
-	nr_left = le32_to_cpu(pn->header.nr_entries) / 2;
 	nr_right = le32_to_cpu(pn->header.nr_entries) - nr_left;
 
-	ln->header.flags = pn->header.flags;
-	ln->header.nr_entries = cpu_to_le32(nr_left);
-	ln->header.max_entries = pn->header.max_entries;
-	ln->header.value_size = pn->header.value_size;
-
 	rn->header.flags = pn->header.flags;
 	rn->header.nr_entries = cpu_to_le32(nr_right);
 	rn->header.max_entries = pn->header.max_entries;
 	rn->header.value_size = pn->header.value_size;
-
-	memcpy(ln->keys, pn->keys, nr_left * sizeof(pn->keys[0]));
 	memcpy(rn->keys, pn->keys + nr_left, nr_right * sizeof(pn->keys[0]));
-
-	size = le32_to_cpu(pn->header.flags) & INTERNAL_NODE ?
-		sizeof(__le64) : s->info->value_type.size;
-	memcpy(value_ptr(ln, 0), value_ptr(pn, 0), nr_left * size);
 	memcpy(value_ptr(rn, 0), value_ptr(pn, nr_left),
 	       nr_right * size);