diff --git a/fs/btrfs/relocation.c b/fs/btrfs/relocation.c
index ece53d2f55ae32..1bc57f7b91cfac 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/relocation.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/relocation.c
@@ -1468,8 +1468,7 @@ int btrfs_init_reloc_root(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans,
 	int clear_rsv = 0;
 	int ret;
 
-	if (!rc || !rc->create_reloc_tree ||
-	    root->root_key.objectid == BTRFS_TREE_RELOC_OBJECTID)
+	if (!rc)
 		return 0;
 
 	/*
@@ -1479,12 +1478,28 @@ int btrfs_init_reloc_root(struct btrfs_trans_handle *trans,
 	if (reloc_root_is_dead(root))
 		return 0;
 
+	/*
+	 * This is subtle but important.  We do not do
+	 * record_root_in_transaction for reloc roots, instead we record their
+	 * corresponding fs root, and then here we update the last trans for the
+	 * reloc root.  This means that we have to do this for the entire life
+	 * of the reloc root, regardless of which stage of the relocation we are
+	 * in.
+	 */
 	if (root->reloc_root) {
 		reloc_root = root->reloc_root;
 		reloc_root->last_trans = trans->transid;
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * We are merging reloc roots, we do not need new reloc trees.  Also
+	 * reloc trees never need their own reloc tree.
+	 */
+	if (!rc->create_reloc_tree ||
+	    root->root_key.objectid == BTRFS_TREE_RELOC_OBJECTID)
+		return 0;
+
 	if (!trans->reloc_reserved) {
 		rsv = trans->block_rsv;
 		trans->block_rsv = rc->block_rsv;