diff --git a/fs/sysfs/file.c b/fs/sysfs/file.c
index 16f39c3..ff93c92 100644
--- a/fs/sysfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/sysfs/file.c
@@ -470,7 +470,9 @@
 	if (!victim_sd)
 		goto out;
 
+	mutex_lock(&sysfs_rename_mutex);
 	victim = sysfs_get_dentry(victim_sd);
+	mutex_unlock(&sysfs_rename_mutex);
 	if (IS_ERR(victim)) {
 		rc = PTR_ERR(victim);
 		victim = NULL;
@@ -509,7 +511,9 @@
 	if (!victim_sd)
 		goto out;
 
+	mutex_lock(&sysfs_rename_mutex);
 	victim = sysfs_get_dentry(victim_sd);
+	mutex_unlock(&sysfs_rename_mutex);
 	if (IS_ERR(victim)) {
 		rc = PTR_ERR(victim);
 		victim = NULL;