diff --git a/net/sunrpc/clnt.c b/net/sunrpc/clnt.c
index b9276a63eaf19e..0edada973434e4 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/clnt.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/clnt.c
@@ -1529,9 +1529,13 @@ call_refreshresult(struct rpc_task *task)
 	task->tk_action = call_refresh;
 	switch (status) {
 	case 0:
-		if (rpcauth_uptodatecred(task))
+		if (rpcauth_uptodatecred(task)) {
 			task->tk_action = call_allocate;
-		return;
+			return;
+		}
+		/* Use rate-limiting and a max number of retries if refresh
+		 * had status 0 but failed to update the cred.
+		 */
 	case -ETIMEDOUT:
 		rpc_delay(task, 3*HZ);
 	case -EAGAIN: