diff --git a/fs/kernfs/dir.c b/fs/kernfs/dir.c
index aced0bb41083..fdeae2c6e7ba 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 */
 static char kernfs_pr_cont_buf[PATH_MAX];	/* protected by rename_lock */
 static DEFINE_SPINLOCK(kernfs_idr_lock);	/* root->ino_idr */
@@ -26,10 +26,21 @@ static DEFINE_SPINLOCK(kernfs_idr_lock);	/* root->ino_idr */
 
 static bool kernfs_active(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
-	lockdep_assert_held(&kernfs_mutex);
 	return atomic_read(&kn->active) >= 0;
 }
 
+static bool kernfs_active_write(struct kernfs_node *kn)
+{
+	lockdep_assert_held_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
+	return kernfs_active(kn);
+}
+
+static bool kernfs_active_read(struct kernfs_node *kn)
+{
+	lockdep_assert_held_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
+	return kernfs_active(kn);
+}
+
 static bool kernfs_lockdep(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_LOCK_ALLOC
@@ -340,7 +351,7 @@ static int kernfs_sd_compare(const struct kernfs_node *left,
  *	@kn->parent->dir.children.
  *
  *	Locking:
- *	mutex_lock(kernfs_mutex)
+ *	kernfs_rwsem write lock
  *
  *	RETURNS:
  *	0 on susccess -EEXIST on failure.
@@ -386,7 +397,7 @@ 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 write lock
  */
 static bool kernfs_unlink_sibling(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
@@ -457,14 +468,14 @@ 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_);
@@ -483,7 +494,7 @@ static void kernfs_drain(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 
 	kernfs_drain_open_files(kn);
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -722,7 +733,7 @@ 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);
@@ -737,7 +748,7 @@ int kernfs_add_one(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 	if (parent->flags & KERNFS_EMPTY_DIR)
 		goto out_unlock;
 
-	if ((parent->flags & KERNFS_ACTIVATED) && !kernfs_active(parent))
+	if ((parent->flags & KERNFS_ACTIVATED) && !kernfs_active_write(parent))
 		goto out_unlock;
 
 	kn->hash = kernfs_name_hash(kn->name, kn->ns);
@@ -753,7 +764,7 @@ 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.
@@ -767,7 +778,7 @@ int kernfs_add_one(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 	return 0;
 
 out_unlock:
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -788,7 +799,7 @@ 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",
@@ -820,7 +831,7 @@ 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);
 
 	/* grab kernfs_rename_lock to piggy back on kernfs_pr_cont_buf */
 	spin_lock_irq(&kernfs_rename_lock);
@@ -860,10 +871,10 @@ 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;
 }
@@ -884,10 +895,10 @@ 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;
 }
@@ -1040,7 +1051,7 @@ static int kernfs_dop_revalidate(struct dentry *dentry, unsigned int flags)
 	if (flags & LOOKUP_RCU)
 		return -ECHILD;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	kn = kernfs_dentry_node(dentry);
 
@@ -1088,10 +1099,10 @@ static int kernfs_dop_revalidate(struct dentry *dentry, unsigned int flags)
 	    kernfs_info(dentry->d_sb)->ns != kn->ns)
 		goto out_bad;
 out:
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return 1;
 out_bad:
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1109,7 +1120,7 @@ static struct dentry *kernfs_iop_lookup(struct inode *dir,
 	struct inode *inode = NULL;
 	const void *ns = NULL;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	kernfs_set_rev(dentry, parent);
 
@@ -1132,7 +1143,7 @@ static struct dentry *kernfs_iop_lookup(struct inode *dir,
 	/* instantiate and hash dentry */
 	ret = d_splice_alias(inode, dentry);
 out_unlock:
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_read(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1251,7 +1262,7 @@ 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)
@@ -1287,7 +1298,7 @@ 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))) {
@@ -1301,14 +1312,14 @@ 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.
@@ -1323,7 +1334,7 @@ static void __kernfs_remove(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 	/* prevent any new usage under @kn by deactivating all nodes */
 	pos = NULL;
 	while ((pos = kernfs_next_descendant_post(pos, kn)))
-		if (kernfs_active(pos))
+		if (kernfs_active_write(pos))
 			atomic_add(KN_DEACTIVATED_BIAS, &pos->active);
 
 	/* deactivate and unlink the subtree node-by-node */
@@ -1331,7 +1342,7 @@ 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.
@@ -1378,9 +1389,9 @@ 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);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -1467,17 +1478,17 @@ 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 holding kernfs_rwsem for write.  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;
@@ -1495,9 +1506,9 @@ 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));
@@ -1505,12 +1516,12 @@ 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 holding kernfs_rwsem for write; otherwise,
+	 * waiting for SUICIDED && deactivated could finish prematurely.
 	 */
 	kernfs_unbreak_active_protection(kn);
 
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -1534,13 +1545,13 @@ 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)
 		__kernfs_remove(kn);
 
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	if (kn)
 		return 0;
@@ -1566,10 +1577,10 @@ 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) ||
+	if (!kernfs_active_write(kn) || !kernfs_active_write(new_parent) ||
 	    (new_parent->flags & KERNFS_EMPTY_DIR))
 		goto out;
 
@@ -1620,7 +1631,7 @@ 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;
 }
 
@@ -1640,7 +1651,7 @@ static struct kernfs_node *kernfs_dir_pos(const void *ns,
 	struct kernfs_node *parent, loff_t hash, struct kernfs_node *pos)
 {
 	if (pos) {
-		int valid = kernfs_active(pos) &&
+		int valid = kernfs_active_read(pos) &&
 			pos->parent == parent && hash == pos->hash;
 		kernfs_put(pos);
 		if (!valid)
@@ -1660,7 +1671,7 @@ static struct kernfs_node *kernfs_dir_pos(const void *ns,
 		}
 	}
 	/* Skip over entries which are dying/dead or in the wrong namespace */
-	while (pos && (!kernfs_active(pos) || pos->ns != ns)) {
+	while (pos && (!kernfs_active_read(pos) || pos->ns != ns)) {
 		struct rb_node *node = rb_next(&pos->rb);
 		if (!node)
 			pos = NULL;
@@ -1681,7 +1692,7 @@ static struct kernfs_node *kernfs_dir_next_pos(const void *ns,
 				pos = NULL;
 			else
 				pos = rb_to_kn(node);
-		} while (pos && (!kernfs_active(pos) || pos->ns != ns));
+		} while (pos && (!kernfs_active_read(pos) || pos->ns != ns));
 	}
 	return pos;
 }
@@ -1695,7 +1706,7 @@ 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;
@@ -1712,12 +1723,12 @@ 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 f277d023ebcd..7e391784dbe4 100644
--- a/fs/kernfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/kernfs/file.c
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ 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;
@@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ 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 fc2469a20fed..ddaf18198935 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;
 }
 
@@ -189,9 +189,9 @@ 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_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	kernfs_refresh_inode(kn, inode);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	generic_fillattr(inode, stat);
 	return 0;
@@ -281,9 +281,9 @@ int kernfs_iop_permission(struct inode *inode, int mask)
 
 	kn = inode->i_private;
 
-	mutex_lock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	down_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	kernfs_refresh_inode(kn, inode);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	return generic_permission(inode, mask);
 }
diff --git a/fs/kernfs/kernfs-internal.h b/fs/kernfs/kernfs-internal.h
index 0d48a367231d..a7b0e2074260 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))
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ 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 9dc7e7a64e10..baa4155ba2ed 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_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	inode = kernfs_get_inode(sb, info->root->kn);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&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 5432883d819f..7246b470de3c 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_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 	error = kernfs_get_target_path(parent, target, path);
-	mutex_unlock(&kernfs_mutex);
+	up_write(&kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	return error;
 }
