diff --git a/fs/configfs/configfs_internal.h b/fs/configfs/configfs_internal.h
index 762d287123ca992456b8bef7c16848dde753fb13..da6061a6df40ced1c03816b3210069b6f22b1067 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/configfs_internal.h
+++ b/fs/configfs/configfs_internal.h
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ struct configfs_dirent {
 	umode_t			s_mode;
 	struct dentry		* s_dentry;
 	struct iattr		* s_iattr;
+#ifdef CONFIG_LOCKDEP
+	int			s_depth;
+#endif
 };
 
 #define CONFIGFS_ROOT		0x0001
diff --git a/fs/configfs/dir.c b/fs/configfs/dir.c
index 05373db21a4e8e4a8a297b3c83fb8ef85a0cb175..8e48b52205aac439106638c82546ff351f0ed955 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/dir.c
@@ -78,11 +78,97 @@ static const struct dentry_operations configfs_dentry_ops = {
 	.d_delete	= configfs_d_delete,
 };
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_LOCKDEP
+
+/*
+ * Helpers to make lockdep happy with our recursive locking of default groups'
+ * inodes (see configfs_attach_group() and configfs_detach_group()).
+ * We put default groups i_mutexes in separate classes according to their depth
+ * from the youngest non-default group ancestor.
+ *
+ * For a non-default group A having default groups A/B, A/C, and A/C/D, default
+ * groups A/B and A/C will have their inode's mutex in class
+ * default_group_class[0], and default group A/C/D will be in
+ * default_group_class[1].
+ *
+ * The lock classes are declared and assigned in inode.c, according to the
+ * s_depth value.
+ * The s_depth value is initialized to -1, adjusted to >= 0 when attaching
+ * default groups, and reset to -1 when all default groups are attached. During
+ * attachment, if configfs_create() sees s_depth > 0, the lock class of the new
+ * inode's mutex is set to default_group_class[s_depth - 1].
+ */
+
+static void configfs_init_dirent_depth(struct configfs_dirent *sd)
+{
+	sd->s_depth = -1;
+}
+
+static void configfs_set_dir_dirent_depth(struct configfs_dirent *parent_sd,
+					  struct configfs_dirent *sd)
+{
+	int parent_depth = parent_sd->s_depth;
+
+	if (parent_depth >= 0)
+		sd->s_depth = parent_depth + 1;
+}
+
+static void
+configfs_adjust_dir_dirent_depth_before_populate(struct configfs_dirent *sd)
+{
+	/*
+	 * item's i_mutex class is already setup, so s_depth is now only
+	 * used to set new sub-directories s_depth, which is always done
+	 * with item's i_mutex locked.
+	 */
+	/*
+	 *  sd->s_depth == -1 iff we are a non default group.
+	 *  else (we are a default group) sd->s_depth > 0 (see
+	 *  create_dir()).
+	 */
+	if (sd->s_depth == -1)
+		/*
+		 * We are a non default group and we are going to create
+		 * default groups.
+		 */
+		sd->s_depth = 0;
+}
+
+static void
+configfs_adjust_dir_dirent_depth_after_populate(struct configfs_dirent *sd)
+{
+	/* We will not create default groups anymore. */
+	sd->s_depth = -1;
+}
+
+#else /* CONFIG_LOCKDEP */
+
+static void configfs_init_dirent_depth(struct configfs_dirent *sd)
+{
+}
+
+static void configfs_set_dir_dirent_depth(struct configfs_dirent *parent_sd,
+					  struct configfs_dirent *sd)
+{
+}
+
+static void
+configfs_adjust_dir_dirent_depth_before_populate(struct configfs_dirent *sd)
+{
+}
+
+static void
+configfs_adjust_dir_dirent_depth_after_populate(struct configfs_dirent *sd)
+{
+}
+
+#endif /* CONFIG_LOCKDEP */
+
 /*
  * Allocates a new configfs_dirent and links it to the parent configfs_dirent
  */
-static struct configfs_dirent *configfs_new_dirent(struct configfs_dirent * parent_sd,
-						void * element)
+static struct configfs_dirent *configfs_new_dirent(struct configfs_dirent *parent_sd,
+						   void *element, int type)
 {
 	struct configfs_dirent * sd;
 
@@ -94,6 +180,8 @@ static struct configfs_dirent *configfs_new_dirent(struct configfs_dirent * pare
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&sd->s_links);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&sd->s_children);
 	sd->s_element = element;
+	sd->s_type = type;
+	configfs_init_dirent_depth(sd);
 	spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
 	if (parent_sd->s_type & CONFIGFS_USET_DROPPING) {
 		spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
@@ -138,12 +226,11 @@ int configfs_make_dirent(struct configfs_dirent * parent_sd,
 {
 	struct configfs_dirent * sd;
 
-	sd = configfs_new_dirent(parent_sd, element);
+	sd = configfs_new_dirent(parent_sd, element, type);
 	if (IS_ERR(sd))
 		return PTR_ERR(sd);
 
 	sd->s_mode = mode;
-	sd->s_type = type;
 	sd->s_dentry = dentry;
 	if (dentry) {
 		dentry->d_fsdata = configfs_get(sd);
@@ -187,6 +274,7 @@ static int create_dir(struct config_item * k, struct dentry * p,
 		error = configfs_make_dirent(p->d_fsdata, d, k, mode,
 					     CONFIGFS_DIR | CONFIGFS_USET_CREATING);
 	if (!error) {
+		configfs_set_dir_dirent_depth(p->d_fsdata, d->d_fsdata);
 		error = configfs_create(d, mode, init_dir);
 		if (!error) {
 			inc_nlink(p->d_inode);
@@ -789,11 +877,13 @@ static int configfs_attach_group(struct config_item *parent_item,
 		 * error, as rmdir() would.
 		 */
 		mutex_lock_nested(&dentry->d_inode->i_mutex, I_MUTEX_CHILD);
+		configfs_adjust_dir_dirent_depth_before_populate(sd);
 		ret = populate_groups(to_config_group(item));
 		if (ret) {
 			configfs_detach_item(item);
 			dentry->d_inode->i_flags |= S_DEAD;
 		}
+		configfs_adjust_dir_dirent_depth_after_populate(sd);
 		mutex_unlock(&dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
 		if (ret)
 			d_delete(dentry);
@@ -916,11 +1006,11 @@ static int configfs_dump(struct configfs_dirent *sd, int level)
  * Note, btw, that this can be called at *any* time, even when a configfs
  * subsystem isn't registered, or when configfs is loading or unloading.
  * Just like configfs_register_subsystem().  So we take the same
- * precautions.  We pin the filesystem.  We lock each i_mutex _in_order_
- * on our way down the tree.  If we can find the target item in the
+ * precautions.  We pin the filesystem.  We lock configfs_dirent_lock.
+ * If we can find the target item in the
  * configfs tree, it must be part of the subsystem tree as well, so we
- * do not need the subsystem semaphore.  Holding the i_mutex chain locks
- * out mkdir() and rmdir(), who might be racing us.
+ * do not need the subsystem semaphore.  Holding configfs_dirent_lock helps
+ * locking out mkdir() and rmdir(), who might be racing us.
  */
 
 /*
@@ -933,17 +1023,21 @@ static int configfs_dump(struct configfs_dirent *sd, int level)
  * do that so we can unlock it if we find nothing.
  *
  * Here we do a depth-first search of the dentry hierarchy looking for
- * our object.  We take i_mutex on each step of the way down.  IT IS
- * ESSENTIAL THAT i_mutex LOCKING IS ORDERED.  If we come back up a branch,
- * we'll drop the i_mutex.
+ * our object.
+ * We deliberately ignore items tagged as dropping since they are virtually
+ * dead, as well as items in the middle of attachment since they virtually
+ * do not exist yet. This completes the locking out of racing mkdir() and
+ * rmdir().
+ * Note: subdirectories in the middle of attachment start with s_type =
+ * CONFIGFS_DIR|CONFIGFS_USET_CREATING set by create_dir().  When
+ * CONFIGFS_USET_CREATING is set, we ignore the item.  The actual set of
+ * s_type is in configfs_new_dirent(), which has configfs_dirent_lock.
  *
- * If the target is not found, -ENOENT is bubbled up and we have released
- * all locks.  If the target was found, the locks will be cleared by
- * configfs_depend_rollback().
+ * If the target is not found, -ENOENT is bubbled up.
  *
  * This adds a requirement that all config_items be unique!
  *
- * This is recursive because the locking traversal is tricky.  There isn't
+ * This is recursive.  There isn't
  * much on the stack, though, so folks that need this function - be careful
  * about your stack!  Patches will be accepted to make it iterative.
  */
@@ -955,13 +1049,13 @@ static int configfs_depend_prep(struct dentry *origin,
 
 	BUG_ON(!origin || !sd);
 
-	/* Lock this guy on the way down */
-	mutex_lock(&sd->s_dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
 	if (sd->s_element == target)  /* Boo-yah */
 		goto out;
 
 	list_for_each_entry(child_sd, &sd->s_children, s_sibling) {
-		if (child_sd->s_type & CONFIGFS_DIR) {
+		if ((child_sd->s_type & CONFIGFS_DIR) &&
+		    !(child_sd->s_type & CONFIGFS_USET_DROPPING) &&
+		    !(child_sd->s_type & CONFIGFS_USET_CREATING)) {
 			ret = configfs_depend_prep(child_sd->s_dentry,
 						   target);
 			if (!ret)
@@ -970,33 +1064,12 @@ static int configfs_depend_prep(struct dentry *origin,
 	}
 
 	/* We looped all our children and didn't find target */
-	mutex_unlock(&sd->s_dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
 	ret = -ENOENT;
 
 out:
 	return ret;
 }
 
-/*
- * This is ONLY called if configfs_depend_prep() did its job.  So we can
- * trust the entire path from item back up to origin.
- *
- * We walk backwards from item, unlocking each i_mutex.  We finish by
- * unlocking origin.
- */
-static void configfs_depend_rollback(struct dentry *origin,
-				     struct config_item *item)
-{
-	struct dentry *dentry = item->ci_dentry;
-
-	while (dentry != origin) {
-		mutex_unlock(&dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
-		dentry = dentry->d_parent;
-	}
-
-	mutex_unlock(&origin->d_inode->i_mutex);
-}
-
 int configfs_depend_item(struct configfs_subsystem *subsys,
 			 struct config_item *target)
 {
@@ -1037,17 +1110,21 @@ int configfs_depend_item(struct configfs_subsystem *subsys,
 
 	/* Ok, now we can trust subsys/s_item */
 
-	/* Scan the tree, locking i_mutex recursively, return 0 if found */
+	spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
+	/* Scan the tree, return 0 if found */
 	ret = configfs_depend_prep(subsys_sd->s_dentry, target);
 	if (ret)
-		goto out_unlock_fs;
+		goto out_unlock_dirent_lock;
 
-	/* We hold all i_mutexes from the subsystem down to the target */
+	/*
+	 * We are sure that the item is not about to be removed by rmdir(), and
+	 * not in the middle of attachment by mkdir().
+	 */
 	p = target->ci_dentry->d_fsdata;
 	p->s_dependent_count += 1;
 
-	configfs_depend_rollback(subsys_sd->s_dentry, target);
-
+out_unlock_dirent_lock:
+	spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
 out_unlock_fs:
 	mutex_unlock(&configfs_sb->s_root->d_inode->i_mutex);
 
@@ -1072,10 +1149,10 @@ void configfs_undepend_item(struct configfs_subsystem *subsys,
 	struct configfs_dirent *sd;
 
 	/*
-	 * Since we can trust everything is pinned, we just need i_mutex
-	 * on the item.
+	 * Since we can trust everything is pinned, we just need
+	 * configfs_dirent_lock.
 	 */
-	mutex_lock(&target->ci_dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
+	spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
 
 	sd = target->ci_dentry->d_fsdata;
 	BUG_ON(sd->s_dependent_count < 1);
@@ -1086,7 +1163,7 @@ void configfs_undepend_item(struct configfs_subsystem *subsys,
 	 * After this unlock, we cannot trust the item to stay alive!
 	 * DO NOT REFERENCE item after this unlock.
 	 */
-	mutex_unlock(&target->ci_dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
+	spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(configfs_undepend_item);
 
@@ -1286,13 +1363,6 @@ static int configfs_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 	if (sd->s_type & CONFIGFS_USET_DEFAULT)
 		return -EPERM;
 
-	/*
-	 * Here's where we check for dependents.  We're protected by
-	 * i_mutex.
-	 */
-	if (sd->s_dependent_count)
-		return -EBUSY;
-
 	/* Get a working ref until we have the child */
 	parent_item = configfs_get_config_item(dentry->d_parent);
 	subsys = to_config_group(parent_item)->cg_subsys;
@@ -1316,9 +1386,17 @@ static int configfs_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 
 		mutex_lock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 		spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
-		ret = configfs_detach_prep(dentry, &wait_mutex);
-		if (ret)
-			configfs_detach_rollback(dentry);
+		/*
+		 * Here's where we check for dependents.  We're protected by
+		 * configfs_dirent_lock.
+		 * If no dependent, atomically tag the item as dropping.
+		 */
+		ret = sd->s_dependent_count ? -EBUSY : 0;
+		if (!ret) {
+			ret = configfs_detach_prep(dentry, &wait_mutex);
+			if (ret)
+				configfs_detach_rollback(dentry);
+		}
 		spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
 		mutex_unlock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 
@@ -1429,7 +1507,7 @@ static int configfs_dir_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 	 */
 	err = -ENOENT;
 	if (configfs_dirent_is_ready(parent_sd)) {
-		file->private_data = configfs_new_dirent(parent_sd, NULL);
+		file->private_data = configfs_new_dirent(parent_sd, NULL, 0);
 		if (IS_ERR(file->private_data))
 			err = PTR_ERR(file->private_data);
 		else
diff --git a/fs/configfs/inode.c b/fs/configfs/inode.c
index 5d349d38e0561c4fd66e67bbda76c5f91ca87c69..4921e7426d95b4d3aed71a1dc0e0d7c89d1e2100 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/inode.c
@@ -33,10 +33,15 @@
 #include <linux/backing-dev.h>
 #include <linux/capability.h>
 #include <linux/sched.h>
+#include <linux/lockdep.h>
 
 #include <linux/configfs.h>
 #include "configfs_internal.h"
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_LOCKDEP
+static struct lock_class_key default_group_class[MAX_LOCK_DEPTH];
+#endif
+
 extern struct super_block * configfs_sb;
 
 static const struct address_space_operations configfs_aops = {
@@ -150,6 +155,38 @@ struct inode * configfs_new_inode(mode_t mode, struct configfs_dirent * sd)
 	return inode;
 }
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_LOCKDEP
+
+static void configfs_set_inode_lock_class(struct configfs_dirent *sd,
+					  struct inode *inode)
+{
+	int depth = sd->s_depth;
+
+	if (depth > 0) {
+		if (depth <= ARRAY_SIZE(default_group_class)) {
+			lockdep_set_class(&inode->i_mutex,
+					  &default_group_class[depth - 1]);
+		} else {
+			/*
+			 * In practice the maximum level of locking depth is
+			 * already reached. Just inform about possible reasons.
+			 */
+			printk(KERN_INFO "configfs: Too many levels of inodes"
+			       " for the locking correctness validator.\n");
+			printk(KERN_INFO "Spurious warnings may appear.\n");
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+#else /* CONFIG_LOCKDEP */
+
+static void configfs_set_inode_lock_class(struct configfs_dirent *sd,
+					  struct inode *inode)
+{
+}
+
+#endif /* CONFIG_LOCKDEP */
+
 int configfs_create(struct dentry * dentry, int mode, int (*init)(struct inode *))
 {
 	int error = 0;
@@ -162,6 +199,7 @@ int configfs_create(struct dentry * dentry, int mode, int (*init)(struct inode *
 					struct inode *p_inode = dentry->d_parent->d_inode;
 					p_inode->i_mtime = p_inode->i_ctime = CURRENT_TIME;
 				}
+				configfs_set_inode_lock_class(sd, inode);
 				goto Proceed;
 			}
 			else