diff --git a/fs/btrfs/tree-checker.c b/fs/btrfs/tree-checker.c
index c8fbcae4e88ea5..32604e9b31c3ee 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/tree-checker.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/tree-checker.c
@@ -1797,6 +1797,11 @@ enum btrfs_tree_block_status __btrfs_check_leaf(struct extent_buffer *leaf)
 		return BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_INVALID_LEVEL;
 	}
 
+	if (unlikely(!btrfs_header_flag(leaf, BTRFS_HEADER_FLAG_WRITTEN))) {
+		generic_err(leaf, 0, "invalid flag for leaf, WRITTEN not set");
+		return BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_WRITTEN_NOT_SET;
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * Extent buffers from a relocation tree have a owner field that
 	 * corresponds to the subvolume tree they are based on. So just from an
@@ -1858,6 +1863,7 @@ enum btrfs_tree_block_status __btrfs_check_leaf(struct extent_buffer *leaf)
 	for (slot = 0; slot < nritems; slot++) {
 		u32 item_end_expected;
 		u64 item_data_end;
+		enum btrfs_tree_block_status ret;
 
 		btrfs_item_key_to_cpu(leaf, &key, slot);
 
@@ -1913,21 +1919,10 @@ enum btrfs_tree_block_status __btrfs_check_leaf(struct extent_buffer *leaf)
 			return BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_INVALID_OFFSETS;
 		}
 
-		/*
-		 * We only want to do this if WRITTEN is set, otherwise the leaf
-		 * may be in some intermediate state and won't appear valid.
-		 */
-		if (btrfs_header_flag(leaf, BTRFS_HEADER_FLAG_WRITTEN)) {
-			enum btrfs_tree_block_status ret;
-
-			/*
-			 * Check if the item size and content meet other
-			 * criteria
-			 */
-			ret = check_leaf_item(leaf, &key, slot, &prev_key);
-			if (unlikely(ret != BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_CLEAN))
-				return ret;
-		}
+		/* Check if the item size and content meet other criteria. */
+		ret = check_leaf_item(leaf, &key, slot, &prev_key);
+		if (unlikely(ret != BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_CLEAN))
+			return ret;
 
 		prev_key.objectid = key.objectid;
 		prev_key.type = key.type;
@@ -1957,6 +1952,11 @@ enum btrfs_tree_block_status __btrfs_check_node(struct extent_buffer *node)
 	int level = btrfs_header_level(node);
 	u64 bytenr;
 
+	if (unlikely(!btrfs_header_flag(node, BTRFS_HEADER_FLAG_WRITTEN))) {
+		generic_err(node, 0, "invalid flag for node, WRITTEN not set");
+		return BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_WRITTEN_NOT_SET;
+	}
+
 	if (unlikely(level <= 0 || level >= BTRFS_MAX_LEVEL)) {
 		generic_err(node, 0,
 			"invalid level for node, have %d expect [1, %d]",
diff --git a/fs/btrfs/tree-checker.h b/fs/btrfs/tree-checker.h
index 5c809b50b2d09b..01669cfa6578de 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/tree-checker.h
+++ b/fs/btrfs/tree-checker.h
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ enum btrfs_tree_block_status {
 	BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_INVALID_BLOCKPTR,
 	BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_INVALID_ITEM,
 	BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_INVALID_OWNER,
+	BTRFS_TREE_BLOCK_WRITTEN_NOT_SET,
 };
 
 /*