diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/Makefile b/fs/reiserfs/Makefile
index 7c5ab6330dd..6a9e30c041d 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/Makefile
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/Makefile
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ obj-$(CONFIG_REISERFS_FS) += reiserfs.o
 reiserfs-objs := bitmap.o do_balan.o namei.o inode.o file.o dir.o fix_node.o \
 		 super.o prints.o objectid.o lbalance.o ibalance.o stree.o \
 		 hashes.o tail_conversion.o journal.o resize.o \
-		 item_ops.o ioctl.o procfs.o xattr.o
+		 item_ops.o ioctl.o procfs.o xattr.o lock.o
 
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_REISERFS_FS_XATTR),y)
 reiserfs-objs += xattr_user.o xattr_trusted.o
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/bitmap.c b/fs/reiserfs/bitmap.c
index e716161ab32..147033461b8 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/bitmap.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/bitmap.c
@@ -1256,7 +1256,9 @@ struct buffer_head *reiserfs_read_bitmap_block(struct super_block *sb,
 	else {
 		if (buffer_locked(bh)) {
 			PROC_INFO_INC(sb, scan_bitmap.wait);
+			reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 			__wait_on_buffer(bh);
+			reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 		}
 		BUG_ON(!buffer_uptodate(bh));
 		BUG_ON(atomic_read(&bh->b_count) == 0);
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/dir.c b/fs/reiserfs/dir.c
index 6d2668fdc38..17f31ad379c 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/dir.c
@@ -174,14 +174,22 @@ int reiserfs_readdir_dentry(struct dentry *dentry, void *dirent,
 				// user space buffer is swapped out. At that time
 				// entry can move to somewhere else
 				memcpy(local_buf, d_name, d_reclen);
+
+				/*
+				 * Since filldir might sleep, we can release
+				 * the write lock here for other waiters
+				 */
+				reiserfs_write_unlock(inode->i_sb);
 				if (filldir
 				    (dirent, local_buf, d_reclen, d_off, d_ino,
 				     DT_UNKNOWN) < 0) {
+					reiserfs_write_lock(inode->i_sb);
 					if (local_buf != small_buf) {
 						kfree(local_buf);
 					}
 					goto end;
 				}
+				reiserfs_write_lock(inode->i_sb);
 				if (local_buf != small_buf) {
 					kfree(local_buf);
 				}
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/fix_node.c b/fs/reiserfs/fix_node.c
index 5e5a4e6fbaf..bf5f2cbdb06 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/fix_node.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/fix_node.c
@@ -1022,7 +1022,11 @@ static int get_far_parent(struct tree_balance *tb,
 	/* Check whether the common parent is locked. */
 
 	if (buffer_locked(*pcom_father)) {
+
+		/* Release the write lock while the buffer is busy */
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(tb->tb_sb);
 		__wait_on_buffer(*pcom_father);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(tb->tb_sb);
 		if (FILESYSTEM_CHANGED_TB(tb)) {
 			brelse(*pcom_father);
 			return REPEAT_SEARCH;
@@ -1927,7 +1931,9 @@ static int get_direct_parent(struct tree_balance *tb, int h)
 		return REPEAT_SEARCH;
 
 	if (buffer_locked(bh)) {
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(tb->tb_sb);
 		__wait_on_buffer(bh);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(tb->tb_sb);
 		if (FILESYSTEM_CHANGED_TB(tb))
 			return REPEAT_SEARCH;
 	}
@@ -2278,7 +2284,9 @@ static int wait_tb_buffers_until_unlocked(struct tree_balance *tb)
 				    REPEAT_SEARCH : CARRY_ON;
 			}
 #endif
+			reiserfs_write_unlock(tb->tb_sb);
 			__wait_on_buffer(locked);
+			reiserfs_write_lock(tb->tb_sb);
 			if (FILESYSTEM_CHANGED_TB(tb))
 				return REPEAT_SEARCH;
 		}
@@ -2349,7 +2357,9 @@ int fix_nodes(int op_mode, struct tree_balance *tb,
 
 	/* if it possible in indirect_to_direct conversion */
 	if (buffer_locked(tbS0)) {
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(tb->tb_sb);
 		__wait_on_buffer(tbS0);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(tb->tb_sb);
 		if (FILESYSTEM_CHANGED_TB(tb))
 			return REPEAT_SEARCH;
 	}
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/inode.c b/fs/reiserfs/inode.c
index a14d6cd9eed..1893c819843 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/inode.c
@@ -489,10 +489,14 @@ static int reiserfs_get_blocks_direct_io(struct inode *inode,
 	   disappeared */
 	if (REISERFS_I(inode)->i_flags & i_pack_on_close_mask) {
 		int err;
-		lock_kernel();
+
+		reiserfs_write_lock(inode->i_sb);
+
 		err = reiserfs_commit_for_inode(inode);
 		REISERFS_I(inode)->i_flags &= ~i_pack_on_close_mask;
-		unlock_kernel();
+
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(inode->i_sb);
+
 		if (err < 0)
 			ret = err;
 	}
@@ -616,7 +620,6 @@ int reiserfs_get_block(struct inode *inode, sector_t block,
 	loff_t new_offset =
 	    (((loff_t) block) << inode->i_sb->s_blocksize_bits) + 1;
 
-	/* bad.... */
 	reiserfs_write_lock(inode->i_sb);
 	version = get_inode_item_key_version(inode);
 
@@ -997,10 +1000,14 @@ int reiserfs_get_block(struct inode *inode, sector_t block,
 			if (retval)
 				goto failure;
 		}
-		/* inserting indirect pointers for a hole can take a
-		 ** long time.  reschedule if needed
+		/*
+		 * inserting indirect pointers for a hole can take a
+		 * long time.  reschedule if needed and also release the write
+		 * lock for others.
 		 */
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(inode->i_sb);
 		cond_resched();
+		reiserfs_write_lock(inode->i_sb);
 
 		retval = search_for_position_by_key(inode->i_sb, &key, &path);
 		if (retval == IO_ERROR) {
@@ -2608,7 +2615,10 @@ int reiserfs_prepare_write(struct file *f, struct page *page,
 	int ret;
 	int old_ref = 0;
 
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(inode->i_sb);
 	reiserfs_wait_on_write_block(inode->i_sb);
+	reiserfs_write_lock(inode->i_sb);
+
 	fix_tail_page_for_writing(page);
 	if (reiserfs_transaction_running(inode->i_sb)) {
 		struct reiserfs_transaction_handle *th;
@@ -2758,7 +2768,10 @@ int reiserfs_commit_write(struct file *f, struct page *page,
 	int update_sd = 0;
 	struct reiserfs_transaction_handle *th = NULL;
 
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(inode->i_sb);
 	reiserfs_wait_on_write_block(inode->i_sb);
+	reiserfs_write_lock(inode->i_sb);
+
 	if (reiserfs_transaction_running(inode->i_sb)) {
 		th = current->journal_info;
 	}
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/ioctl.c b/fs/reiserfs/ioctl.c
index 0ccc3fdda7b..5e40b0cd4c3 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/ioctl.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/ioctl.c
@@ -141,9 +141,11 @@ long reiserfs_compat_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd,
 	default:
 		return -ENOIOCTLCMD;
 	}
-	lock_kernel();
+
+	reiserfs_write_lock(inode->i_sb);
 	ret = reiserfs_ioctl(inode, file, cmd, (unsigned long) compat_ptr(arg));
-	unlock_kernel();
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(inode->i_sb);
+
 	return ret;
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/journal.c b/fs/reiserfs/journal.c
index 90622200b39..438c71f0bc9 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/journal.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/journal.c
@@ -429,21 +429,6 @@ static void clear_prepared_bits(struct buffer_head *bh)
 	clear_buffer_journal_restore_dirty(bh);
 }
 
-/* utility function to force a BUG if it is called without the big
-** kernel lock held.  caller is the string printed just before calling BUG()
-*/
-void reiserfs_check_lock_depth(struct super_block *sb, char *caller)
-{
-#ifdef CONFIG_SMP
-	if (current->lock_depth < 0) {
-		reiserfs_panic(sb, "journal-1", "%s called without kernel "
-			       "lock held", caller);
-	}
-#else
-	;
-#endif
-}
-
 /* return a cnode with same dev, block number and size in table, or null if not found */
 static inline struct reiserfs_journal_cnode *get_journal_hash_dev(struct
 								  super_block
@@ -552,11 +537,48 @@ static inline void insert_journal_hash(struct reiserfs_journal_cnode **table,
 	journal_hash(table, cn->sb, cn->blocknr) = cn;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Several mutexes depend on the write lock.
+ * However sometimes we want to relax the write lock while we hold
+ * these mutexes, according to the release/reacquire on schedule()
+ * properties of the Bkl that were used.
+ * Reiserfs performances and locking were based on this scheme.
+ * Now that the write lock is a mutex and not the bkl anymore, doing so
+ * may result in a deadlock:
+ *
+ * A acquire write_lock
+ * A acquire j_commit_mutex
+ * A release write_lock and wait for something
+ * B acquire write_lock
+ * B can't acquire j_commit_mutex and sleep
+ * A can't acquire write lock anymore
+ * deadlock
+ *
+ * What we do here is avoiding such deadlock by playing the same game
+ * than the Bkl: if we can't acquire a mutex that depends on the write lock,
+ * we release the write lock, wait a bit and then retry.
+ *
+ * The mutexes concerned by this hack are:
+ * - The commit mutex of a journal list
+ * - The flush mutex
+ * - The journal lock
+ */
+static inline void reiserfs_mutex_lock_safe(struct mutex *m,
+			       struct super_block *s)
+{
+	while (!mutex_trylock(m)) {
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
+		schedule();
+		reiserfs_write_lock(s);
+	}
+}
+
 /* lock the current transaction */
 static inline void lock_journal(struct super_block *sb)
 {
 	PROC_INFO_INC(sb, journal.lock_journal);
-	mutex_lock(&SB_JOURNAL(sb)->j_mutex);
+
+	reiserfs_mutex_lock_safe(&SB_JOURNAL(sb)->j_mutex, sb);
 }
 
 /* unlock the current transaction */
@@ -708,7 +730,9 @@ static void check_barrier_completion(struct super_block *s,
 		disable_barrier(s);
 		set_buffer_uptodate(bh);
 		set_buffer_dirty(bh);
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 		sync_dirty_buffer(bh);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(s);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -996,8 +1020,13 @@ static int reiserfs_async_progress_wait(struct super_block *s)
 {
 	DEFINE_WAIT(wait);
 	struct reiserfs_journal *j = SB_JOURNAL(s);
-	if (atomic_read(&j->j_async_throttle))
+
+	if (atomic_read(&j->j_async_throttle)) {
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 		congestion_wait(BLK_RW_ASYNC, HZ / 10);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(s);
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1043,7 +1072,8 @@ static int flush_commit_list(struct super_block *s,
 	}
 
 	/* make sure nobody is trying to flush this one at the same time */
-	mutex_lock(&jl->j_commit_mutex);
+	reiserfs_mutex_lock_safe(&jl->j_commit_mutex, s);
+
 	if (!journal_list_still_alive(s, trans_id)) {
 		mutex_unlock(&jl->j_commit_mutex);
 		goto put_jl;
@@ -1061,12 +1091,17 @@ static int flush_commit_list(struct super_block *s,
 
 	if (!list_empty(&jl->j_bh_list)) {
 		int ret;
-		unlock_kernel();
+
+		/*
+		 * We might sleep in numerous places inside
+		 * write_ordered_buffers. Relax the write lock.
+		 */
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 		ret = write_ordered_buffers(&journal->j_dirty_buffers_lock,
 					    journal, jl, &jl->j_bh_list);
 		if (ret < 0 && retval == 0)
 			retval = ret;
-		lock_kernel();
+		reiserfs_write_lock(s);
 	}
 	BUG_ON(!list_empty(&jl->j_bh_list));
 	/*
@@ -1114,12 +1149,19 @@ static int flush_commit_list(struct super_block *s,
 		bn = SB_ONDISK_JOURNAL_1st_BLOCK(s) +
 		    (jl->j_start + i) % SB_ONDISK_JOURNAL_SIZE(s);
 		tbh = journal_find_get_block(s, bn);
+
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 		wait_on_buffer(tbh);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(s);
 		// since we're using ll_rw_blk above, it might have skipped over
 		// a locked buffer.  Double check here
 		//
-		if (buffer_dirty(tbh))	/* redundant, sync_dirty_buffer() checks */
+		/* redundant, sync_dirty_buffer() checks */
+		if (buffer_dirty(tbh)) {
+			reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 			sync_dirty_buffer(tbh);
+			reiserfs_write_lock(s);
+		}
 		if (unlikely(!buffer_uptodate(tbh))) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_REISERFS_CHECK
 			reiserfs_warning(s, "journal-601",
@@ -1143,10 +1185,15 @@ static int flush_commit_list(struct super_block *s,
 			if (buffer_dirty(jl->j_commit_bh))
 				BUG();
 			mark_buffer_dirty(jl->j_commit_bh) ;
+			reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 			sync_dirty_buffer(jl->j_commit_bh) ;
+			reiserfs_write_lock(s);
 		}
-	} else
+	} else {
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 		wait_on_buffer(jl->j_commit_bh);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(s);
+	}
 
 	check_barrier_completion(s, jl->j_commit_bh);
 
@@ -1286,7 +1333,9 @@ static int _update_journal_header_block(struct super_block *sb,
 
 	if (trans_id >= journal->j_last_flush_trans_id) {
 		if (buffer_locked((journal->j_header_bh))) {
+			reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 			wait_on_buffer((journal->j_header_bh));
+			reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 			if (unlikely(!buffer_uptodate(journal->j_header_bh))) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_REISERFS_CHECK
 				reiserfs_warning(sb, "journal-699",
@@ -1312,12 +1361,16 @@ static int _update_journal_header_block(struct super_block *sb,
 				disable_barrier(sb);
 				goto sync;
 			}
+			reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 			wait_on_buffer(journal->j_header_bh);
+			reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 			check_barrier_completion(sb, journal->j_header_bh);
 		} else {
 		      sync:
 			set_buffer_dirty(journal->j_header_bh);
+			reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 			sync_dirty_buffer(journal->j_header_bh);
+			reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 		}
 		if (!buffer_uptodate(journal->j_header_bh)) {
 			reiserfs_warning(sb, "journal-837",
@@ -1409,7 +1462,7 @@ static int flush_journal_list(struct super_block *s,
 
 	/* if flushall == 0, the lock is already held */
 	if (flushall) {
-		mutex_lock(&journal->j_flush_mutex);
+		reiserfs_mutex_lock_safe(&journal->j_flush_mutex, s);
 	} else if (mutex_trylock(&journal->j_flush_mutex)) {
 		BUG();
 	}
@@ -1553,7 +1606,11 @@ static int flush_journal_list(struct super_block *s,
 					reiserfs_panic(s, "journal-1011",
 						       "cn->bh is NULL");
 				}
+
+				reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 				wait_on_buffer(cn->bh);
+				reiserfs_write_lock(s);
+
 				if (!cn->bh) {
 					reiserfs_panic(s, "journal-1012",
 						       "cn->bh is NULL");
@@ -1973,11 +2030,19 @@ static int do_journal_release(struct reiserfs_transaction_handle *th,
 	reiserfs_mounted_fs_count--;
 	/* wait for all commits to finish */
 	cancel_delayed_work(&SB_JOURNAL(sb)->j_work);
+
+	/*
+	 * We must release the write lock here because
+	 * the workqueue job (flush_async_commit) needs this lock
+	 */
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 	flush_workqueue(commit_wq);
+
 	if (!reiserfs_mounted_fs_count) {
 		destroy_workqueue(commit_wq);
 		commit_wq = NULL;
 	}
+	reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 
 	free_journal_ram(sb);
 
@@ -2243,7 +2308,11 @@ static int journal_read_transaction(struct super_block *sb,
 	/* read in the log blocks, memcpy to the corresponding real block */
 	ll_rw_block(READ, get_desc_trans_len(desc), log_blocks);
 	for (i = 0; i < get_desc_trans_len(desc); i++) {
+
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 		wait_on_buffer(log_blocks[i]);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
+
 		if (!buffer_uptodate(log_blocks[i])) {
 			reiserfs_warning(sb, "journal-1212",
 					 "REPLAY FAILURE fsck required! "
@@ -2964,8 +3033,11 @@ static void queue_log_writer(struct super_block *s)
 	init_waitqueue_entry(&wait, current);
 	add_wait_queue(&journal->j_join_wait, &wait);
 	set_current_state(TASK_UNINTERRUPTIBLE);
-	if (test_bit(J_WRITERS_QUEUED, &journal->j_state))
+	if (test_bit(J_WRITERS_QUEUED, &journal->j_state)) {
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 		schedule();
+		reiserfs_write_lock(s);
+	}
 	__set_current_state(TASK_RUNNING);
 	remove_wait_queue(&journal->j_join_wait, &wait);
 }
@@ -2982,7 +3054,9 @@ static void let_transaction_grow(struct super_block *sb, unsigned int trans_id)
 	struct reiserfs_journal *journal = SB_JOURNAL(sb);
 	unsigned long bcount = journal->j_bcount;
 	while (1) {
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 		schedule_timeout_uninterruptible(1);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 		journal->j_current_jl->j_state |= LIST_COMMIT_PENDING;
 		while ((atomic_read(&journal->j_wcount) > 0 ||
 			atomic_read(&journal->j_jlock)) &&
@@ -3033,7 +3107,9 @@ static int do_journal_begin_r(struct reiserfs_transaction_handle *th,
 
 	if (test_bit(J_WRITERS_BLOCKED, &journal->j_state)) {
 		unlock_journal(sb);
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 		reiserfs_wait_on_write_block(sb);
+		reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 		PROC_INFO_INC(sb, journal.journal_relock_writers);
 		goto relock;
 	}
@@ -3506,14 +3582,14 @@ static void flush_async_commits(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct reiserfs_journal_list *jl;
 	struct list_head *entry;
 
-	lock_kernel();
+	reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 	if (!list_empty(&journal->j_journal_list)) {
 		/* last entry is the youngest, commit it and you get everything */
 		entry = journal->j_journal_list.prev;
 		jl = JOURNAL_LIST_ENTRY(entry);
 		flush_commit_list(sb, jl, 1);
 	}
-	unlock_kernel();
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -4041,7 +4117,7 @@ static int do_journal_end(struct reiserfs_transaction_handle *th,
 	 * the new transaction is fully setup, and we've already flushed the
 	 * ordered bh list
 	 */
-	mutex_lock(&jl->j_commit_mutex);
+	reiserfs_mutex_lock_safe(&jl->j_commit_mutex, sb);
 
 	/* save the transaction id in case we need to commit it later */
 	commit_trans_id = jl->j_trans_id;
@@ -4203,10 +4279,10 @@ static int do_journal_end(struct reiserfs_transaction_handle *th,
 	 * is lost.
 	 */
 	if (!list_empty(&jl->j_tail_bh_list)) {
-		unlock_kernel();
+		reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 		write_ordered_buffers(&journal->j_dirty_buffers_lock,
 				      journal, jl, &jl->j_tail_bh_list);
-		lock_kernel();
+		reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 	}
 	BUG_ON(!list_empty(&jl->j_tail_bh_list));
 	mutex_unlock(&jl->j_commit_mutex);
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/lock.c b/fs/reiserfs/lock.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cdd8d9ef048
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/lock.c
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+#include <linux/reiserfs_fs.h>
+#include <linux/mutex.h>
+
+/*
+ * The previous reiserfs locking scheme was heavily based on
+ * the tricky properties of the Bkl:
+ *
+ * - it was acquired recursively by a same task
+ * - the performances relied on the release-while-schedule() property
+ *
+ * Now that we replace it by a mutex, we still want to keep the same
+ * recursive property to avoid big changes in the code structure.
+ * We use our own lock_owner here because the owner field on a mutex
+ * is only available in SMP or mutex debugging, also we only need this field
+ * for this mutex, no need for a system wide mutex facility.
+ *
+ * Also this lock is often released before a call that could block because
+ * reiserfs performances were partialy based on the release while schedule()
+ * property of the Bkl.
+ */
+void reiserfs_write_lock(struct super_block *s)
+{
+	struct reiserfs_sb_info *sb_i = REISERFS_SB(s);
+
+	if (sb_i->lock_owner != current) {
+		mutex_lock(&sb_i->lock);
+		sb_i->lock_owner = current;
+	}
+
+	/* No need to protect it, only the current task touches it */
+	sb_i->lock_depth++;
+}
+
+void reiserfs_write_unlock(struct super_block *s)
+{
+	struct reiserfs_sb_info *sb_i = REISERFS_SB(s);
+
+	/*
+	 * Are we unlocking without even holding the lock?
+	 * Such a situation could even raise a BUG() if we don't
+	 * want the data become corrupted
+	 */
+	WARN_ONCE(sb_i->lock_owner != current,
+		  "Superblock write lock imbalance");
+
+	if (--sb_i->lock_depth == -1) {
+		sb_i->lock_owner = NULL;
+		mutex_unlock(&sb_i->lock);
+	}
+}
+
+/*
+ * Utility function to force a BUG if it is called without the superblock
+ * write lock held.  caller is the string printed just before calling BUG()
+ */
+void reiserfs_check_lock_depth(struct super_block *sb, char *caller)
+{
+	struct reiserfs_sb_info *sb_i = REISERFS_SB(sb);
+
+	if (sb_i->lock_depth < 0)
+		reiserfs_panic(sb, "%s called without kernel lock held %d",
+			       caller);
+}
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/resize.c b/fs/reiserfs/resize.c
index 18b315d3d10..b3a94d20f0f 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/resize.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/resize.c
@@ -141,7 +141,9 @@ int reiserfs_resize(struct super_block *s, unsigned long block_count_new)
 
 			set_buffer_uptodate(bh);
 			mark_buffer_dirty(bh);
+			reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 			sync_dirty_buffer(bh);
+			reiserfs_write_lock(s);
 			// update bitmap_info stuff
 			bitmap[i].free_count = sb_blocksize(sb) * 8 - 1;
 			brelse(bh);
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/stree.c b/fs/reiserfs/stree.c
index d036ee5b1c8..6bd99a99a65 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/stree.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/stree.c
@@ -629,7 +629,9 @@ int search_by_key(struct super_block *sb, const struct cpu_key *key,	/* Key to s
 				search_by_key_reada(sb, reada_bh,
 						    reada_blocks, reada_count);
 			ll_rw_block(READ, 1, &bh);
+			reiserfs_write_unlock(sb);
 			wait_on_buffer(bh);
+			reiserfs_write_lock(sb);
 			if (!buffer_uptodate(bh))
 				goto io_error;
 		} else {
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/super.c b/fs/reiserfs/super.c
index 7adea74d6a8..e1cfb80d0bf 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/super.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/super.c
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ static void reiserfs_put_super(struct super_block *s)
 	struct reiserfs_transaction_handle th;
 	th.t_trans_id = 0;
 
-	lock_kernel();
+	reiserfs_write_lock(s);
 
 	if (s->s_dirt)
 		reiserfs_write_super(s);
@@ -499,10 +499,10 @@ static void reiserfs_put_super(struct super_block *s)
 
 	reiserfs_proc_info_done(s);
 
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
+	mutex_destroy(&REISERFS_SB(s)->lock);
 	kfree(s->s_fs_info);
 	s->s_fs_info = NULL;
-
-	unlock_kernel();
 }
 
 static struct kmem_cache *reiserfs_inode_cachep;
@@ -1168,11 +1168,14 @@ static int reiserfs_remount(struct super_block *s, int *mount_flags, char *arg)
 	unsigned int qfmt = 0;
 #ifdef CONFIG_QUOTA
 	int i;
+#endif
 
+	reiserfs_write_lock(s);
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_QUOTA
 	memcpy(qf_names, REISERFS_SB(s)->s_qf_names, sizeof(qf_names));
 #endif
 
-	lock_kernel();
 	rs = SB_DISK_SUPER_BLOCK(s);
 
 	if (!reiserfs_parse_options
@@ -1295,12 +1298,12 @@ static int reiserfs_remount(struct super_block *s, int *mount_flags, char *arg)
 
 out_ok:
 	replace_mount_options(s, new_opts);
-	unlock_kernel();
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 	return 0;
 
 out_err:
 	kfree(new_opts);
-	unlock_kernel();
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -1404,7 +1407,9 @@ static int read_super_block(struct super_block *s, int offset)
 static int reread_meta_blocks(struct super_block *s)
 {
 	ll_rw_block(READ, 1, &(SB_BUFFER_WITH_SB(s)));
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
 	wait_on_buffer(SB_BUFFER_WITH_SB(s));
+	reiserfs_write_lock(s);
 	if (!buffer_uptodate(SB_BUFFER_WITH_SB(s))) {
 		reiserfs_warning(s, "reiserfs-2504", "error reading the super");
 		return 1;
@@ -1613,7 +1618,7 @@ static int reiserfs_fill_super(struct super_block *s, void *data, int silent)
 	sbi = kzalloc(sizeof(struct reiserfs_sb_info), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!sbi) {
 		errval = -ENOMEM;
-		goto error;
+		goto error_alloc;
 	}
 	s->s_fs_info = sbi;
 	/* Set default values for options: non-aggressive tails, RO on errors */
@@ -1627,6 +1632,20 @@ static int reiserfs_fill_super(struct super_block *s, void *data, int silent)
 	/* setup default block allocator options */
 	reiserfs_init_alloc_options(s);
 
+	mutex_init(&REISERFS_SB(s)->lock);
+	REISERFS_SB(s)->lock_depth = -1;
+
+	/*
+	 * This function is called with the bkl, which also was the old
+	 * locking used here.
+	 * do_journal_begin() will soon check if we hold the lock (ie: was the
+	 * bkl). This is likely because do_journal_begin() has several another
+	 * callers because at this time, it doesn't seem to be necessary to
+	 * protect against anything.
+	 * Anyway, let's be conservative and lock for now.
+	 */
+	reiserfs_write_lock(s);
+
 	jdev_name = NULL;
 	if (reiserfs_parse_options
 	    (s, (char *)data, &(sbi->s_mount_opt), &blocks, &jdev_name,
@@ -1852,9 +1871,13 @@ static int reiserfs_fill_super(struct super_block *s, void *data, int silent)
 	init_waitqueue_head(&(sbi->s_wait));
 	spin_lock_init(&sbi->bitmap_lock);
 
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
+
 	return (0);
 
 error:
+	reiserfs_write_unlock(s);
+error_alloc:
 	if (jinit_done) {	/* kill the commit thread, free journal ram */
 		journal_release_error(NULL, s);
 	}
diff --git a/include/linux/reiserfs_fs.h b/include/linux/reiserfs_fs.h
index dd31e7bae35..e47328f5180 100644
--- a/include/linux/reiserfs_fs.h
+++ b/include/linux/reiserfs_fs.h
@@ -52,11 +52,13 @@
 #define REISERFS_IOC32_GETVERSION	FS_IOC32_GETVERSION
 #define REISERFS_IOC32_SETVERSION	FS_IOC32_SETVERSION
 
-/* Locking primitives */
-/* Right now we are still falling back to (un)lock_kernel, but eventually that
-   would evolve into real per-fs locks */
-#define reiserfs_write_lock( sb ) lock_kernel()
-#define reiserfs_write_unlock( sb ) unlock_kernel()
+/*
+ * Locking primitives. The write lock is a per superblock
+ * special mutex that has properties close to the Big Kernel Lock
+ * which was used in the previous locking scheme.
+ */
+void reiserfs_write_lock(struct super_block *s);
+void reiserfs_write_unlock(struct super_block *s);
 
 struct fid;
 
diff --git a/include/linux/reiserfs_fs_sb.h b/include/linux/reiserfs_fs_sb.h
index dab68bbed67..045c3721367 100644
--- a/include/linux/reiserfs_fs_sb.h
+++ b/include/linux/reiserfs_fs_sb.h
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #ifdef __KERNEL__
 #include <linux/workqueue.h>
 #include <linux/rwsem.h>
+#include <linux/mutex.h>
+#include <linux/sched.h>
 #endif
 
 typedef enum {
@@ -355,6 +357,13 @@ struct reiserfs_sb_info {
 	struct reiserfs_journal *s_journal;	/* pointer to journal information */
 	unsigned short s_mount_state;	/* reiserfs state (valid, invalid) */
 
+	/* Serialize writers access, replace the old bkl */
+	struct mutex lock;
+	/* Owner of the lock (can be recursive) */
+	struct task_struct *lock_owner;
+	/* Depth of the lock, start from -1 like the bkl */
+	int lock_depth;
+
 	/* Comment? -Hans */
 	void (*end_io_handler) (struct buffer_head *, int);
 	hashf_t s_hash_function;	/* pointer to function which is used