diff --git a/fs/sysfs/dir.c b/fs/sysfs/dir.c
index de47ed3..08c6696 100644
--- a/fs/sysfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/sysfs/dir.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 #include "sysfs.h"
 
 DEFINE_MUTEX(sysfs_mutex);
-DEFINE_SPINLOCK(sysfs_assoc_lock);
+DEFINE_SPINLOCK(sysfs_symlink_target_lock);
 
 #define to_sysfs_dirent(X) rb_entry((X), struct sysfs_dirent, s_rb)
 
@@ -902,9 +902,21 @@
 {
 	struct sysfs_dirent *sd = kobj->sd;
 
-	spin_lock(&sysfs_assoc_lock);
+	/*
+	 * In general, kboject owner is responsible for ensuring removal
+	 * doesn't race with other operations and sysfs doesn't provide any
+	 * protection; however, when @kobj is used as a symlink target, the
+	 * symlinking entity usually doesn't own @kobj and thus has no
+	 * control over removal.  @kobj->sd may be removed anytime and
+	 * symlink code may end up dereferencing an already freed sd.
+	 *
+	 * sysfs_symlink_target_lock synchronizes @kobj->sd disassociation
+	 * against symlink operations so that symlink code can safely
+	 * dereference @kobj->sd.
+	 */
+	spin_lock(&sysfs_symlink_target_lock);
 	kobj->sd = NULL;
-	spin_unlock(&sysfs_assoc_lock);
+	spin_unlock(&sysfs_symlink_target_lock);
 
 	if (sd) {
 		WARN_ON_ONCE(sysfs_type(sd) != SYSFS_DIR);
diff --git a/fs/sysfs/symlink.c b/fs/sysfs/symlink.c
index 22ea2f5..1a23681 100644
--- a/fs/sysfs/symlink.c
+++ b/fs/sysfs/symlink.c
@@ -32,13 +32,15 @@
 
 	BUG_ON(!name || !parent_sd);
 
-	/* target->sd can go away beneath us but is protected with
-	 * sysfs_assoc_lock.  Fetch target_sd from it.
+	/*
+	 * We don't own @target and it may be removed at any time.
+	 * Synchronize using sysfs_symlink_target_lock.  See
+	 * sysfs_remove_dir() for details.
 	 */
-	spin_lock(&sysfs_assoc_lock);
+	spin_lock(&sysfs_symlink_target_lock);
 	if (target->sd)
 		target_sd = sysfs_get(target->sd);
-	spin_unlock(&sysfs_assoc_lock);
+	spin_unlock(&sysfs_symlink_target_lock);
 
 	error = -ENOENT;
 	if (!target_sd)
@@ -140,10 +142,16 @@
 			const char *name)
 {
 	const void *ns = NULL;
-	spin_lock(&sysfs_assoc_lock);
+
+	/*
+	 * We don't own @target and it may be removed at any time.
+	 * Synchronize using sysfs_symlink_target_lock.  See
+	 * sysfs_remove_dir() for details.
+	 */
+	spin_lock(&sysfs_symlink_target_lock);
 	if (targ->sd)
 		ns = targ->sd->s_ns;
-	spin_unlock(&sysfs_assoc_lock);
+	spin_unlock(&sysfs_symlink_target_lock);
 	sysfs_hash_and_remove(kobj->sd, name, ns);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/sysfs/sysfs.h b/fs/sysfs/sysfs.h
index 05d063f..e3aea92 100644
--- a/fs/sysfs/sysfs.h
+++ b/fs/sysfs/sysfs.h
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
  * dir.c
  */
 extern struct mutex sysfs_mutex;
-extern spinlock_t sysfs_assoc_lock;
+extern spinlock_t sysfs_symlink_target_lock;
 extern const struct dentry_operations sysfs_dentry_ops;
 
 extern const struct file_operations sysfs_dir_operations;