diff --git a/source3/smbd/oplock.c b/source3/smbd/oplock.c
index 1b2a87b8d8a..febc1201402 100644
--- a/source3/smbd/oplock.c
+++ b/source3/smbd/oplock.c
@@ -131,13 +131,14 @@ static void downgrade_file_oplock(files_struct *fsp)
 {
 	struct smbd_server_connection *sconn = fsp->conn->sconn;
 	struct kernel_oplocks *koplocks = sconn->oplocks.kernel_ops;
+	bool use_kernel = lp_kernel_oplocks(SNUM(fsp->conn)) && koplocks;
 
 	if (!EXCLUSIVE_OPLOCK_TYPE(fsp->oplock_type)) {
 		DEBUG(0, ("trying to downgrade an already-downgraded oplock!\n"));
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (koplocks) {
+	if (use_kernel) {
 		koplocks->ops->release_oplock(koplocks, fsp, LEVEL_II_OPLOCK);
 	}
 	fsp->oplock_type = LEVEL_II_OPLOCK;