diff --git a/fs/kernfs/dir.c b/fs/kernfs/dir.c
index 0ba056e06e489c5f51c1f8b1cf8c566268e9a0fb..1ea4763824c764a461b9481a365bd2c6d1e6c6b3 100644
--- a/fs/kernfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/kernfs/dir.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 #include "kernfs-internal.h"
 
-DEFINE_MUTEX(kernfs_mutex);
+DECLARE_RWSEM(kernfs_rwsem);
 static DEFINE_SPINLOCK(kernfs_rename_lock);	/* kn->parent and ->name */
 /*
  * Don't use rename_lock to piggy back on pr_cont_buf. We don't want to
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ static DEFINE_SPINLOCK(kernfs_idr_lock);	/* root->ino_idr */
 
 static bool kernfs_active(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
-	lockdep_assert_held(&kernfs_mutex);
+	lockdep_assert_held(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return atomic_read(&kn->active) >= 0;
 }
 
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ static int kernfs_sd_compare(const struct kernfs_node *left,
  *	@kn->parent->dir.children.
  *
  *	Locking:
- *	mutex_lock(kernfs_mutex)
+ *	kernfs_rwsem held exclusive
  *
  *	RETURNS:
  *	0 on susccess -EEXIST on failure.
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ static int kernfs_link_sibling(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 	/* successfully added, account subdir number */
 	if (kernfs_type(kn) == KERNFS_DIR)
 		kn->parent->dir.subdirs++;
+	kernfs_inc_rev(kn->parent);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -393,7 +394,7 @@ static int kernfs_link_sibling(struct kernfs_node *kn)
  *	removed, %false if @kn wasn't on the rbtree.
  *
  *	Locking:
- *	mutex_lock(kernfs_mutex)
+ *	kernfs_rwsem held exclusive
  */
 static bool kernfs_unlink_sibling(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
@@ -402,6 +403,7 @@ static bool kernfs_unlink_sibling(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 
 	if (kernfs_type(kn) == KERNFS_DIR)
 		kn->parent->dir.subdirs--;
+	kernfs_inc_rev(kn->parent);
 
 	rb_erase(&kn->rb, &kn->parent->dir.children);
 	RB_CLEAR_NODE(&kn->rb);
@@ -463,14 +465,14 @@ void kernfs_put_active(struct kernfs_node *kn)
  * return after draining is complete.
  */
 static void kernfs_drain(struct kernfs_node *kn)
-	__releases(&kernfs_mutex) __acquires(&kernfs_mutex)
+	__releases(&kernfs_rwsem) __acquires(&kernfs_rwsem)
 {
 	struct kernfs_root *root = kernfs_root(kn);
 
-	lockdep_assert_held(&kernfs_mutex);
+	lockdep_assert_held_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(kernfs_active(kn));
 
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	if (kernfs_lockdep(kn)) {
 		rwsem_acquire(&kn->dep_map, 0, 0, _RET_IP_);
@@ -489,7 +491,7 @@ static void kernfs_drain(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 
 	kernfs_drain_open_files(kn);
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -563,12 +565,34 @@ static int kernfs_dop_revalidate(struct dentry *dentry, unsigned int flags)
 	if (flags & LOOKUP_RCU)
 		return -ECHILD;
 
-	/* Always perform fresh lookup for negatives */
-	if (d_really_is_negative(dentry))
-		goto out_bad_unlocked;
+	/* Negative hashed dentry? */
+	if (d_really_is_negative(dentry)) {
+		struct kernfs_node *parent;
+
+		/* If the kernfs parent node has changed discard and
+		 * proceed to ->lookup.
+		 */
+		down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
+		spin_lock(&dentry->d_lock);
+		parent = kernfs_dentry_node(dentry->d_parent);
+		if (parent) {
+			if (kernfs_dir_changed(parent, dentry)) {
+				spin_unlock(&dentry->d_lock);
+				up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
+				return 0;
+			}
+		}
+		spin_unlock(&dentry->d_lock);
+		up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
+
+		/* The kernfs parent node hasn't changed, leave the
+		 * dentry negative and return success.
+		 */
+		return 1;
+	}
 
 	kn = kernfs_dentry_node(dentry);
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	/* The kernfs node has been deactivated */
 	if (!kernfs_active(kn))
@@ -587,11 +611,10 @@ static int kernfs_dop_revalidate(struct dentry *dentry, unsigned int flags)
 	    kernfs_info(dentry->d_sb)->ns != kn->ns)
 		goto out_bad;
 
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return 1;
 out_bad:
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
-out_bad_unlocked:
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -786,7 +809,7 @@ int kernfs_add_one(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 	bool has_ns;
 	int ret;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	ret = -EINVAL;
 	has_ns = kernfs_ns_enabled(parent);
@@ -817,7 +840,7 @@ int kernfs_add_one(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 		ps_iattr->ia_mtime = ps_iattr->ia_ctime;
 	}
 
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	/*
 	 * Activate the new node unless CREATE_DEACTIVATED is requested.
@@ -831,7 +854,7 @@ int kernfs_add_one(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 	return 0;
 
 out_unlock:
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -852,7 +875,7 @@ static struct kernfs_node *kernfs_find_ns(struct kernfs_node *parent,
 	bool has_ns = kernfs_ns_enabled(parent);
 	unsigned int hash;
 
-	lockdep_assert_held(&kernfs_mutex);
+	lockdep_assert_held(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	if (has_ns != (bool)ns) {
 		WARN(1, KERN_WARNING "kernfs: ns %s in '%s' for '%s'\n",
@@ -884,7 +907,7 @@ static struct kernfs_node *kernfs_walk_ns(struct kernfs_node *parent,
 	size_t len;
 	char *p, *name;
 
-	lockdep_assert_held(&kernfs_mutex);
+	lockdep_assert_held_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	spin_lock_irq(&kernfs_pr_cont_lock);
 
@@ -923,10 +946,10 @@ struct kernfs_node *kernfs_find_and_get_ns(struct kernfs_node *parent,
 {
 	struct kernfs_node *kn;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	kn = kernfs_find_ns(parent, name, ns);
 	kernfs_get(kn);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	return kn;
 }
@@ -947,10 +970,10 @@ struct kernfs_node *kernfs_walk_and_get_ns(struct kernfs_node *parent,
 {
 	struct kernfs_node *kn;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	kn = kernfs_walk_ns(parent, path, ns);
 	kernfs_get(kn);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	return kn;
 }
@@ -1099,37 +1122,41 @@ static struct dentry *kernfs_iop_lookup(struct inode *dir,
 					struct dentry *dentry,
 					unsigned int flags)
 {
-	struct dentry *ret;
 	struct kernfs_node *parent = dir->i_private;
 	struct kernfs_node *kn;
-	struct inode *inode;
+	struct inode *inode = NULL;
 	const void *ns = NULL;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
-
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	if (kernfs_ns_enabled(parent))
 		ns = kernfs_info(dir->i_sb)->ns;
 
 	kn = kernfs_find_ns(parent, dentry->d_name.name, ns);
-
-	/* no such entry */
-	if (!kn || !kernfs_active(kn)) {
-		ret = NULL;
-		goto out_unlock;
-	}
-
 	/* attach dentry and inode */
-	inode = kernfs_get_inode(dir->i_sb, kn);
-	if (!inode) {
-		ret = ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
-		goto out_unlock;
+	if (kn) {
+		/* Inactive nodes are invisible to the VFS so don't
+		 * create a negative.
+		 */
+		if (!kernfs_active(kn)) {
+			up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
+			return NULL;
+		}
+		inode = kernfs_get_inode(dir->i_sb, kn);
+		if (!inode)
+			inode = ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 	}
+	/*
+	 * Needed for negative dentry validation.
+	 * The negative dentry can be created in kernfs_iop_lookup()
+	 * or transforms from positive dentry in dentry_unlink_inode()
+	 * called from vfs_rmdir().
+	 */
+	if (!IS_ERR(inode))
+		kernfs_set_rev(parent, dentry);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
-	/* instantiate and hash dentry */
-	ret = d_splice_alias(inode, dentry);
- out_unlock:
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
-	return ret;
+	/* instantiate and hash (possibly negative) dentry */
+	return d_splice_alias(inode, dentry);
 }
 
 static int kernfs_iop_mkdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
@@ -1247,7 +1274,7 @@ static struct kernfs_node *kernfs_next_descendant_post(struct kernfs_node *pos,
 {
 	struct rb_node *rbn;
 
-	lockdep_assert_held(&kernfs_mutex);
+	lockdep_assert_held_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	/* if first iteration, visit leftmost descendant which may be root */
 	if (!pos)
@@ -1283,7 +1310,7 @@ void kernfs_activate(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
 	struct kernfs_node *pos;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	pos = NULL;
 	while ((pos = kernfs_next_descendant_post(pos, kn))) {
@@ -1297,14 +1324,14 @@ void kernfs_activate(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 		pos->flags |= KERNFS_ACTIVATED;
 	}
 
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 }
 
 static void __kernfs_remove(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
 	struct kernfs_node *pos;
 
-	lockdep_assert_held(&kernfs_mutex);
+	lockdep_assert_held_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	/*
 	 * Short-circuit if non-root @kn has already finished removal.
@@ -1327,7 +1354,7 @@ static void __kernfs_remove(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 		pos = kernfs_leftmost_descendant(kn);
 
 		/*
-		 * kernfs_drain() drops kernfs_mutex temporarily and @pos's
+		 * kernfs_drain() drops kernfs_rwsem temporarily and @pos's
 		 * base ref could have been put by someone else by the time
 		 * the function returns.  Make sure it doesn't go away
 		 * underneath us.
@@ -1374,9 +1401,9 @@ static void __kernfs_remove(struct kernfs_node *kn)
  */
 void kernfs_remove(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	__kernfs_remove(kn);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1463,17 +1490,17 @@ bool kernfs_remove_self(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
 	bool ret;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	kernfs_break_active_protection(kn);
 
 	/*
 	 * SUICIDAL is used to arbitrate among competing invocations.  Only
 	 * the first one will actually perform removal.  When the removal
 	 * is complete, SUICIDED is set and the active ref is restored
-	 * while holding kernfs_mutex.  The ones which lost arbitration
-	 * waits for SUICDED && drained which can happen only after the
-	 * enclosing kernfs operation which executed the winning instance
-	 * of kernfs_remove_self() finished.
+	 * while kernfs_rwsem for held exclusive.  The ones which lost
+	 * arbitration waits for SUICIDED && drained which can happen only
+	 * after the enclosing kernfs operation which executed the winning
+	 * instance of kernfs_remove_self() finished.
 	 */
 	if (!(kn->flags & KERNFS_SUICIDAL)) {
 		kn->flags |= KERNFS_SUICIDAL;
@@ -1491,9 +1518,9 @@ bool kernfs_remove_self(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 			    atomic_read(&kn->active) == KN_DEACTIVATED_BIAS)
 				break;
 
-			mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+			up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 			schedule();
-			mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+			down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 		}
 		finish_wait(waitq, &wait);
 		WARN_ON_ONCE(!RB_EMPTY_NODE(&kn->rb));
@@ -1501,12 +1528,12 @@ bool kernfs_remove_self(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * This must be done while holding kernfs_mutex; otherwise, waiting
-	 * for SUICIDED && deactivated could finish prematurely.
+	 * This must be done while kernfs_rwsem held exclusive; otherwise,
+	 * waiting for SUICIDED && deactivated could finish prematurely.
 	 */
 	kernfs_unbreak_active_protection(kn);
 
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1530,7 +1557,7 @@ int kernfs_remove_by_name_ns(struct kernfs_node *parent, const char *name,
 		return -ENOENT;
 	}
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	kn = kernfs_find_ns(parent, name, ns);
 	if (kn) {
@@ -1539,7 +1566,7 @@ int kernfs_remove_by_name_ns(struct kernfs_node *parent, const char *name,
 		kernfs_put(kn);
 	}
 
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	if (kn)
 		return 0;
@@ -1565,7 +1592,7 @@ int kernfs_rename_ns(struct kernfs_node *kn, struct kernfs_node *new_parent,
 	if (!kn->parent)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	error = -ENOENT;
 	if (!kernfs_active(kn) || !kernfs_active(new_parent) ||
@@ -1619,7 +1646,7 @@ int kernfs_rename_ns(struct kernfs_node *kn, struct kernfs_node *new_parent,
 
 	error = 0;
  out:
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -1694,7 +1721,7 @@ static int kernfs_fop_readdir(struct file *file, struct dir_context *ctx)
 
 	if (!dir_emit_dots(file, ctx))
 		return 0;
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	if (kernfs_ns_enabled(parent))
 		ns = kernfs_info(dentry->d_sb)->ns;
@@ -1711,12 +1738,12 @@ static int kernfs_fop_readdir(struct file *file, struct dir_context *ctx)
 		file->private_data = pos;
 		kernfs_get(pos);
 
-		mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+		up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 		if (!dir_emit(ctx, name, len, ino, type))
 			return 0;
-		mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+		down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	}
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	file->private_data = NULL;
 	ctx->pos = INT_MAX;
 	return 0;
diff --git a/fs/kernfs/file.c b/fs/kernfs/file.c
index c7571931214751b67d3ee3a8c9932d364831ac80..60e2a86c535eb7e8b227e3a6368a3ce28b16e0b6 100644
--- a/fs/kernfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/kernfs/file.c
@@ -860,7 +860,7 @@ static void kernfs_notify_workfn(struct work_struct *work)
 	spin_unlock_irq(&kernfs_notify_lock);
 
 	/* kick fsnotify */
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	list_for_each_entry(info, &kernfs_root(kn)->supers, node) {
 		struct kernfs_node *parent;
@@ -898,7 +898,7 @@ static void kernfs_notify_workfn(struct work_struct *work)
 		iput(inode);
 	}
 
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	kernfs_put(kn);
 	goto repeat;
 }
diff --git a/fs/kernfs/inode.c b/fs/kernfs/inode.c
index fc2469a20fed078b7ddb777cae7cd2dee65aea88..702385efddea984e8fbf29f13f66787e8c632c67 100644
--- a/fs/kernfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/kernfs/inode.c
@@ -106,9 +106,9 @@ int kernfs_setattr(struct kernfs_node *kn, const struct iattr *iattr)
 {
 	int ret;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	ret = __kernfs_setattr(kn, iattr);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ int kernfs_iop_setattr(struct dentry *dentry, struct iattr *iattr)
 	if (!kn)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	error = setattr_prepare(dentry, iattr);
 	if (error)
 		goto out;
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ int kernfs_iop_setattr(struct dentry *dentry, struct iattr *iattr)
 	setattr_copy(inode, iattr);
 
 out:
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -189,11 +189,14 @@ int kernfs_iop_getattr(const struct path *path, struct kstat *stat,
 	struct inode *inode = d_inode(path->dentry);
 	struct kernfs_node *kn = inode->i_private;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
+	spin_lock(&inode->i_lock);
 	kernfs_refresh_inode(kn, inode);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
 
 	generic_fillattr(inode, stat);
+	spin_unlock(&inode->i_lock);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -275,17 +278,21 @@ void kernfs_evict_inode(struct inode *inode)
 int kernfs_iop_permission(struct inode *inode, int mask)
 {
 	struct kernfs_node *kn;
+	int ret;
 
 	if (mask & MAY_NOT_BLOCK)
 		return -ECHILD;
 
 	kn = inode->i_private;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
+	spin_lock(&inode->i_lock);
 	kernfs_refresh_inode(kn, inode);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	ret = generic_permission(inode, mask);
+	spin_unlock(&inode->i_lock);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
-	return generic_permission(inode, mask);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 int kernfs_xattr_get(struct kernfs_node *kn, const char *name,
diff --git a/fs/kernfs/kernfs-internal.h b/fs/kernfs/kernfs-internal.h
index 7ee97ef59184d190d31cafde86190bc3f593990b..c933d9bd8a7832111031bc71ecbcdd01069ae882 100644
--- a/fs/kernfs/kernfs-internal.h
+++ b/fs/kernfs/kernfs-internal.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <linux/lockdep.h>
 #include <linux/fs.h>
 #include <linux/mutex.h>
+#include <linux/rwsem.h>
 #include <linux/xattr.h>
 
 #include <linux/kernfs.h>
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ struct kernfs_super_info {
 	 */
 	const void		*ns;
 
-	/* anchored at kernfs_root->supers, protected by kernfs_mutex */
+	/* anchored at kernfs_root->supers, protected by kernfs_rwsem */
 	struct list_head	node;
 };
 #define kernfs_info(SB) ((struct kernfs_super_info *)(SB->s_fs_info))
@@ -81,6 +82,25 @@ static inline struct kernfs_node *kernfs_dentry_node(struct dentry *dentry)
 	return d_inode(dentry)->i_private;
 }
 
+static inline void kernfs_set_rev(struct kernfs_node *parent,
+				  struct dentry *dentry)
+{
+	dentry->d_time = parent->dir.rev;
+}
+
+static inline void kernfs_inc_rev(struct kernfs_node *parent)
+{
+	parent->dir.rev++;
+}
+
+static inline bool kernfs_dir_changed(struct kernfs_node *parent,
+				      struct dentry *dentry)
+{
+	if (parent->dir.rev != dentry->d_time)
+		return true;
+	return false;
+}
+
 extern const struct super_operations kernfs_sops;
 extern struct kmem_cache *kernfs_node_cache, *kernfs_iattrs_cache;
 
@@ -99,7 +119,7 @@ int __kernfs_setattr(struct kernfs_node *kn, const struct iattr *iattr);
 /*
  * dir.c
  */
-extern struct mutex kernfs_mutex;
+extern struct rw_semaphore kernfs_rwsem;
 extern const struct dentry_operations kernfs_dops;
 extern const struct file_operations kernfs_dir_fops;
 extern const struct inode_operations kernfs_dir_iops;
diff --git a/fs/kernfs/mount.c b/fs/kernfs/mount.c
index 9dc7e7a64e10f30072946aa6df29b707c1579c26..f2f909d09f522bc7d91327d649e19347135169c2 100644
--- a/fs/kernfs/mount.c
+++ b/fs/kernfs/mount.c
@@ -255,9 +255,9 @@ static int kernfs_fill_super(struct super_block *sb, struct kernfs_fs_context *k
 	sb->s_shrink.seeks = 0;
 
 	/* get root inode, initialize and unlock it */
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	inode = kernfs_get_inode(sb, info->root->kn);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	if (!inode) {
 		pr_debug("kernfs: could not get root inode\n");
 		return -ENOMEM;
@@ -344,9 +344,9 @@ int kernfs_get_tree(struct fs_context *fc)
 		}
 		sb->s_flags |= SB_ACTIVE;
 
-		mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+		down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 		list_add(&info->node, &info->root->supers);
-		mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+		up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	}
 
 	fc->root = dget(sb->s_root);
@@ -372,9 +372,9 @@ void kernfs_kill_sb(struct super_block *sb)
 {
 	struct kernfs_super_info *info = kernfs_info(sb);
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	list_del(&info->node);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	/*
 	 * Remove the superblock from fs_supers/s_instances
diff --git a/fs/kernfs/symlink.c b/fs/kernfs/symlink.c
index 5432883d819f2ec69c0436a419ef863b0c98f368..c8f8e41b841107d6dd8f78e798a2cd9ce27e4780 100644
--- a/fs/kernfs/symlink.c
+++ b/fs/kernfs/symlink.c
@@ -116,9 +116,9 @@ static int kernfs_getlink(struct inode *inode, char *path)
 	struct kernfs_node *target = kn->symlink.target_kn;
 	int error;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	error = kernfs_get_target_path(parent, target, path);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/include/linux/kernfs.h b/include/linux/kernfs.h
index e2aa4910365d6996b1e02d041a28ce8d65c4a05b..27399569b8f15e03592a898327b92e760bca4351 100644
--- a/include/linux/kernfs.h
+++ b/include/linux/kernfs.h
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ struct kernfs_elem_dir {
 	 * better directly in kernfs_node but is here to save space.
 	 */
 	struct kernfs_root	*root;
+	/*
+	 * Monotonic revision counter, used to identify if a directory
+	 * node has changed during negative dentry revalidation.
+	 */
+	KABI_EXTEND(unsigned long rev)
 };
 
 struct kernfs_elem_symlink {
@@ -194,7 +199,7 @@ struct kernfs_root {
 	u32			id_highbits;
 	struct kernfs_syscall_ops *syscall_ops;
 
-	/* list of kernfs_super_info of this root, protected by kernfs_mutex */
+	/* list of kernfs_super_info of this root, protected by kernfs_rwsem */
 	struct list_head	supers;
 
 	wait_queue_head_t	deactivate_waitq;