diff --git a/fs/configfs/configfs_internal.h b/fs/configfs/configfs_internal.h
index da015c1..5f61b26 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/configfs_internal.h
+++ b/fs/configfs/configfs_internal.h
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 #define CONFIGFS_USET_IN_MKDIR	0x0200
 #define CONFIGFS_NOT_PINNED	(CONFIGFS_ITEM_ATTR)
 
+extern struct mutex configfs_symlink_mutex;
 extern spinlock_t configfs_dirent_lock;
 
 extern struct vfsmount * configfs_mount;
diff --git a/fs/configfs/dir.c b/fs/configfs/dir.c
index cb5ea44..4e228c8 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/dir.c
@@ -1207,6 +1207,11 @@
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Ensure that no racing symlink() will make detach_prep() fail while
+	 * the new link is temporarily attached
+	 */
+	mutex_lock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 	spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
 	do {
 		struct mutex *wait_mutex;
@@ -1215,6 +1220,7 @@
 		if (ret) {
 			configfs_detach_rollback(dentry);
 			spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
+			mutex_unlock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 			if (ret != -EAGAIN) {
 				config_item_put(parent_item);
 				return ret;
@@ -1224,10 +1230,12 @@
 			mutex_lock(wait_mutex);
 			mutex_unlock(wait_mutex);
 
+			mutex_lock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 			spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
 		}
 	} while (ret == -EAGAIN);
 	spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
+	mutex_unlock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 
 	/* Get a working ref for the duration of this function */
 	item = configfs_get_config_item(dentry);
@@ -1517,11 +1525,13 @@
 	mutex_lock_nested(&configfs_sb->s_root->d_inode->i_mutex,
 			  I_MUTEX_PARENT);
 	mutex_lock_nested(&dentry->d_inode->i_mutex, I_MUTEX_CHILD);
+	mutex_lock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 	spin_lock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
 	if (configfs_detach_prep(dentry, NULL)) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "configfs: Tried to unregister non-empty subsystem!\n");
 	}
 	spin_unlock(&configfs_dirent_lock);
+	mutex_unlock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 	configfs_detach_group(&group->cg_item);
 	dentry->d_inode->i_flags |= S_DEAD;
 	mutex_unlock(&dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
diff --git a/fs/configfs/symlink.c b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
index c12801a..61a886d 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/symlink.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@
 #include <linux/configfs.h>
 #include "configfs_internal.h"
 
+/* Protects attachments of new symlinks */
+DEFINE_MUTEX(configfs_symlink_mutex);
+
 static int item_depth(struct config_item * item)
 {
 	struct config_item * p = item;
@@ -147,7 +150,9 @@
 
 	ret = type->ct_item_ops->allow_link(parent_item, target_item);
 	if (!ret) {
+		mutex_lock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 		ret = create_link(parent_item, target_item, dentry);
+		mutex_unlock(&configfs_symlink_mutex);
 		if (ret && type->ct_item_ops->drop_link)
 			type->ct_item_ops->drop_link(parent_item,
 						     target_item);