diff --git a/fs/smb/common/compress/compress.c b/fs/smb/common/compress/compress.c
index a4123c8f1c0a..4e5164b6dc33 100644
--- a/fs/smb/common/compress/compress.c
+++ b/fs/smb/common/compress/compress.c
@@ -130,12 +130,18 @@ static int smb_decompress_chained(__le16 alg, bool allow_chained,
 		len = le32_to_cpu(payload->Length);
 
 		/*
-		 * CHAINED marks only the first payload. Requiring NONE on every
-		 * later payload rejects ambiguous or independently chained data.
+		 * Conforming chains must set CHAINED on the first payload.
+		 * Windows 11 clients leave uninitialized residual bits in
+		 * Flags on subsequent payload headers. Only reject trailing
+		 * payloads that attempt to initiate an invalid nested chain.
 		 */
-		if ((first && flags != cpu_to_le16(SMB2_COMPRESSION_FLAG_CHAINED)) ||
-		    (!first && flags != cpu_to_le16(SMB2_COMPRESSION_FLAG_NONE)))
-			return -EINVAL;
+		if (first) {
+			if (flags != cpu_to_le16(SMB2_COMPRESSION_FLAG_CHAINED))
+				return -EINVAL;
+		} else {
+			if (flags == cpu_to_le16(SMB2_COMPRESSION_FLAG_CHAINED))
+				return -EINVAL;
+		}
 
 		src += SMB2_COMPRESSION_PAYLOAD_BASE_LEN;
 		remaining -= SMB2_COMPRESSION_PAYLOAD_BASE_LEN;