diff --git a/fs/ntfs/super.c b/fs/ntfs/super.c
index 5ae8de09b271b..001f4e053c85a 100644
--- a/fs/ntfs/super.c
+++ b/fs/ntfs/super.c
@@ -2092,7 +2092,8 @@ static bool load_system_files(ntfs_volume *vol)
 	// TODO: Initialize security.
 	/* Get the extended system files' directory inode. */
 	vol->extend_ino = ntfs_iget(sb, FILE_Extend);
-	if (IS_ERR(vol->extend_ino) || is_bad_inode(vol->extend_ino)) {
+	if (IS_ERR(vol->extend_ino) || is_bad_inode(vol->extend_ino) ||
+	    !S_ISDIR(vol->extend_ino->i_mode)) {
 		if (!IS_ERR(vol->extend_ino))
 			iput(vol->extend_ino);
 		ntfs_error(sb, "Failed to load $Extend.");