diff --git a/fs/fs-writeback.c b/fs/fs-writeback.c
index 71c158a..686734f 100644
--- a/fs/fs-writeback.c
+++ b/fs/fs-writeback.c
@@ -100,11 +100,11 @@
 		inode->i_state |= flags;
 
 		/*
-		 * If the inode is locked, just update its dirty state. 
+		 * If the inode is being synced, just update its dirty state.
 		 * The unlocker will place the inode on the appropriate
 		 * superblock list, based upon its state.
 		 */
-		if (inode->i_state & I_LOCK)
+		if (inode->i_state & I_SYNC)
 			goto out;
 
 		/*
@@ -172,6 +172,15 @@
 	list_move(&inode->i_list, &inode->i_sb->s_more_io);
 }
 
+static void inode_sync_complete(struct inode *inode)
+{
+	/*
+	 * Prevent speculative execution through spin_unlock(&inode_lock);
+	 */
+	smp_mb();
+	wake_up_bit(&inode->i_state, __I_SYNC);
+}
+
 /*
  * Move expired dirty inodes from @delaying_queue to @dispatch_queue.
  */
@@ -225,11 +234,11 @@
 	int wait = wbc->sync_mode == WB_SYNC_ALL;
 	int ret;
 
-	BUG_ON(inode->i_state & I_LOCK);
+	BUG_ON(inode->i_state & I_SYNC);
 
-	/* Set I_LOCK, reset I_DIRTY */
+	/* Set I_SYNC, reset I_DIRTY */
 	dirty = inode->i_state & I_DIRTY;
-	inode->i_state |= I_LOCK;
+	inode->i_state |= I_SYNC;
 	inode->i_state &= ~I_DIRTY;
 
 	spin_unlock(&inode_lock);
@@ -250,7 +259,7 @@
 	}
 
 	spin_lock(&inode_lock);
-	inode->i_state &= ~I_LOCK;
+	inode->i_state &= ~I_SYNC;
 	if (!(inode->i_state & I_FREEING)) {
 		if (!(inode->i_state & I_DIRTY) &&
 		    mapping_tagged(mapping, PAGECACHE_TAG_DIRTY)) {
@@ -305,7 +314,7 @@
 			list_move(&inode->i_list, &inode_unused);
 		}
 	}
-	wake_up_inode(inode);
+	inode_sync_complete(inode);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -324,7 +333,7 @@
 	else
 		WARN_ON(inode->i_state & I_WILL_FREE);
 
-	if ((wbc->sync_mode != WB_SYNC_ALL) && (inode->i_state & I_LOCK)) {
+	if ((wbc->sync_mode != WB_SYNC_ALL) && (inode->i_state & I_SYNC)) {
 		struct address_space *mapping = inode->i_mapping;
 		int ret;
 
@@ -350,16 +359,16 @@
 	/*
 	 * It's a data-integrity sync.  We must wait.
 	 */
-	if (inode->i_state & I_LOCK) {
-		DEFINE_WAIT_BIT(wq, &inode->i_state, __I_LOCK);
+	if (inode->i_state & I_SYNC) {
+		DEFINE_WAIT_BIT(wq, &inode->i_state, __I_SYNC);
 
-		wqh = bit_waitqueue(&inode->i_state, __I_LOCK);
+		wqh = bit_waitqueue(&inode->i_state, __I_SYNC);
 		do {
 			spin_unlock(&inode_lock);
 			__wait_on_bit(wqh, &wq, inode_wait,
 							TASK_UNINTERRUPTIBLE);
 			spin_lock(&inode_lock);
-		} while (inode->i_state & I_LOCK);
+		} while (inode->i_state & I_SYNC);
 	}
 	return __sync_single_inode(inode, wbc);
 }
@@ -392,7 +401,7 @@
  * The inodes to be written are parked on sb->s_io.  They are moved back onto
  * sb->s_dirty as they are selected for writing.  This way, none can be missed
  * on the writer throttling path, and we get decent balancing between many
- * throttled threads: we don't want them all piling up on __wait_on_inode.
+ * throttled threads: we don't want them all piling up on inode_sync_wait.
  */
 static void
 sync_sb_inodes(struct super_block *sb, struct writeback_control *wbc)
@@ -661,7 +670,7 @@
 	ret = __writeback_single_inode(inode, &wbc);
 	spin_unlock(&inode_lock);
 	if (sync)
-		wait_on_inode(inode);
+		inode_sync_wait(inode);
 	return ret;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(write_inode_now);
@@ -736,7 +745,7 @@
 			err = err2;
 	}
 	else
-		wait_on_inode(inode);
+		inode_sync_wait(inode);
 
 	return err;
 }
diff --git a/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c b/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c
index 6bf6890..0f5df73 100644
--- a/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@
 	struct super_block *sb = inode->i_sb;
 
 	if (!hlist_unhashed(&inode->i_hash)) {
-		if (!(inode->i_state & (I_DIRTY|I_LOCK)))
+		if (!(inode->i_state & (I_DIRTY|I_SYNC)))
 			list_move(&inode->i_list, &inode_unused);
 		inodes_stat.nr_unused++;
 		if (!sb || (sb->s_flags & MS_ACTIVE)) {
diff --git a/fs/inode.c b/fs/inode.c
index c616577..ed35383 100644
--- a/fs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/inode.c
@@ -99,6 +99,15 @@
 
 static struct kmem_cache * inode_cachep __read_mostly;
 
+static void wake_up_inode(struct inode *inode)
+{
+	/*
+	 * Prevent speculative execution through spin_unlock(&inode_lock);
+	 */
+	smp_mb();
+	wake_up_bit(&inode->i_state, __I_LOCK);
+}
+
 static struct inode *alloc_inode(struct super_block *sb)
 {
 	static const struct address_space_operations empty_aops;
@@ -232,7 +241,7 @@
 		return;
 	}
 	atomic_inc(&inode->i_count);
-	if (!(inode->i_state & (I_DIRTY|I_LOCK)))
+	if (!(inode->i_state & (I_DIRTY|I_SYNC)))
 		list_move(&inode->i_list, &inode_in_use);
 	inodes_stat.nr_unused--;
 }
@@ -253,7 +262,7 @@
 	BUG_ON(inode->i_data.nrpages);
 	BUG_ON(!(inode->i_state & I_FREEING));
 	BUG_ON(inode->i_state & I_CLEAR);
-	wait_on_inode(inode);
+	inode_sync_wait(inode);
 	DQUOT_DROP(inode);
 	if (inode->i_sb->s_op->clear_inode)
 		inode->i_sb->s_op->clear_inode(inode);
@@ -1071,7 +1080,7 @@
 	struct super_block *sb = inode->i_sb;
 
 	if (!hlist_unhashed(&inode->i_hash)) {
-		if (!(inode->i_state & (I_DIRTY|I_LOCK)))
+		if (!(inode->i_state & (I_DIRTY|I_SYNC)))
 			list_move(&inode->i_list, &inode_unused);
 		inodes_stat.nr_unused++;
 		if (sb->s_flags & MS_ACTIVE) {
@@ -1314,15 +1323,6 @@
 	spin_lock(&inode_lock);
 }
 
-void wake_up_inode(struct inode *inode)
-{
-	/*
-	 * Prevent speculative execution through spin_unlock(&inode_lock);
-	 */
-	smp_mb();
-	wake_up_bit(&inode->i_state, __I_LOCK);
-}
-
 /*
  * We rarely want to lock two inodes that do not have a parent/child
  * relationship (such as directory, child inode) simultaneously. The
diff --git a/fs/jfs/jfs_txnmgr.c b/fs/jfs/jfs_txnmgr.c
index 7aa1f70..e7c60ae 100644
--- a/fs/jfs/jfs_txnmgr.c
+++ b/fs/jfs/jfs_txnmgr.c
@@ -1289,7 +1289,14 @@
 		 * commit the transaction synchronously, so the last iput
 		 * will be done by the calling thread (or later)
 		 */
-		if (tblk->u.ip->i_state & I_LOCK)
+		/*
+		 * I believe this code is no longer needed.  Splitting I_LOCK
+		 * into two bits, I_LOCK and I_SYNC should prevent this
+		 * deadlock as well.  But since I don't have a JFS testload
+		 * to verify this, only a trivial s/I_LOCK/I_SYNC/ was done.
+		 * Joern
+		 */
+		if (tblk->u.ip->i_state & I_SYNC)
 			tblk->xflag &= ~COMMIT_LAZY;
 	}
 
diff --git a/fs/xfs/linux-2.6/xfs_iops.c b/fs/xfs/linux-2.6/xfs_iops.c
index 0b5fa12..e0e06dd 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/linux-2.6/xfs_iops.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/linux-2.6/xfs_iops.c
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
 	 */
 	SYNCHRONIZE();
 	ip->i_update_core = 1;
-	if (!(inode->i_state & I_LOCK))
+	if (!(inode->i_state & I_SYNC))
 		mark_inode_dirty_sync(inode);
 }
 
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@
 	 */
 	SYNCHRONIZE();
 	ip->i_update_core = 1;
-	if (!(inode->i_state & I_LOCK))
+	if (!(inode->i_state & I_SYNC))
 		mark_inode_dirty_sync(inode);
 }
 
diff --git a/include/linux/fs.h b/include/linux/fs.h
index b70331f..365586a4 100644
--- a/include/linux/fs.h
+++ b/include/linux/fs.h
@@ -1261,16 +1261,68 @@
 #endif
 };
 
-/* Inode state bits.  Protected by inode_lock. */
-#define I_DIRTY_SYNC		1 /* Not dirty enough for O_DATASYNC */
-#define I_DIRTY_DATASYNC	2 /* Data-related inode changes pending */
-#define I_DIRTY_PAGES		4 /* Data-related inode changes pending */
-#define __I_LOCK		3
+/*
+ * Inode state bits.  Protected by inode_lock.
+ *
+ * Three bits determine the dirty state of the inode, I_DIRTY_SYNC,
+ * I_DIRTY_DATASYNC and I_DIRTY_PAGES.
+ *
+ * Four bits define the lifetime of an inode.  Initially, inodes are I_NEW,
+ * until that flag is cleared.  I_WILL_FREE, I_FREEING and I_CLEAR are set at
+ * various stages of removing an inode.
+ *
+ * Two bits are used for locking and completion notification, I_LOCK and I_SYNC.
+ *
+ * I_DIRTY_SYNC		Inode itself is dirty.
+ * I_DIRTY_DATASYNC	Data-related inode changes pending
+ * I_DIRTY_PAGES	Inode has dirty pages.  Inode itself may be clean.
+ * I_NEW		get_new_inode() sets i_state to I_LOCK|I_NEW.  Both
+ *			are cleared by unlock_new_inode(), called from iget().
+ * I_WILL_FREE		Must be set when calling write_inode_now() if i_count
+ *			is zero.  I_FREEING must be set when I_WILL_FREE is
+ *			cleared.
+ * I_FREEING		Set when inode is about to be freed but still has dirty
+ *			pages or buffers attached or the inode itself is still
+ *			dirty.
+ * I_CLEAR		Set by clear_inode().  In this state the inode is clean
+ *			and can be destroyed.
+ *
+ *			Inodes that are I_WILL_FREE, I_FREEING or I_CLEAR are
+ *			prohibited for many purposes.  iget() must wait for
+ *			the inode to be completely released, then create it
+ *			anew.  Other functions will just ignore such inodes,
+ *			if appropriate.  I_LOCK is used for waiting.
+ *
+ * I_LOCK		Serves as both a mutex and completion notification.
+ *			New inodes set I_LOCK.  If two processes both create
+ *			the same inode, one of them will release its inode and
+ *			wait for I_LOCK to be released before returning.
+ *			Inodes in I_WILL_FREE, I_FREEING or I_CLEAR state can
+ *			also cause waiting on I_LOCK, without I_LOCK actually
+ *			being set.  find_inode() uses this to prevent returning
+ *			nearly-dead inodes.
+ * I_SYNC		Similar to I_LOCK, but limited in scope to writeback
+ *			of inode dirty data.  Having a seperate lock for this
+ *			purpose reduces latency and prevents some filesystem-
+ *			specific deadlocks.
+ *
+ * Q: Why does I_DIRTY_DATASYNC exist?  It appears as if it could be replaced
+ *    by (I_DIRTY_SYNC|I_DIRTY_PAGES).
+ * Q: What is the difference between I_WILL_FREE and I_FREEING?
+ * Q: igrab() only checks on (I_FREEING|I_WILL_FREE).  Should it also check on
+ *    I_CLEAR?  If not, why?
+ */
+#define I_DIRTY_SYNC		1
+#define I_DIRTY_DATASYNC	2
+#define I_DIRTY_PAGES		4
+#define I_NEW			8
+#define I_WILL_FREE		16
+#define I_FREEING		32
+#define I_CLEAR			64
+#define __I_LOCK		7
 #define I_LOCK			(1 << __I_LOCK)
-#define I_FREEING		16
-#define I_CLEAR			32
-#define I_NEW			64
-#define I_WILL_FREE		128
+#define __I_SYNC		8
+#define I_SYNC			(1 << __I_SYNC)
 
 #define I_DIRTY (I_DIRTY_SYNC | I_DIRTY_DATASYNC | I_DIRTY_PAGES)
 
diff --git a/include/linux/writeback.h b/include/linux/writeback.h
index 1200868..bef7d66 100644
--- a/include/linux/writeback.h
+++ b/include/linux/writeback.h
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@
  * fs/fs-writeback.c
  */	
 void writeback_inodes(struct writeback_control *wbc);
-void wake_up_inode(struct inode *inode);
 int inode_wait(void *);
 void sync_inodes_sb(struct super_block *, int wait);
 void sync_inodes(int wait);
@@ -81,6 +80,13 @@
 	wait_on_bit(&inode->i_state, __I_LOCK, inode_wait,
 							TASK_UNINTERRUPTIBLE);
 }
+static inline void inode_sync_wait(struct inode *inode)
+{
+	might_sleep();
+	wait_on_bit(&inode->i_state, __I_SYNC, inode_wait,
+							TASK_UNINTERRUPTIBLE);
+}
+
 
 /*
  * mm/page-writeback.c
diff --git a/mm/page-writeback.c b/mm/page-writeback.c
index bcdbbf6..d8c21e5 100644
--- a/mm/page-writeback.c
+++ b/mm/page-writeback.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 
 /*
  * The maximum number of pages to writeout in a single bdflush/kupdate
- * operation.  We do this so we don't hold I_LOCK against an inode for
+ * operation.  We do this so we don't hold I_SYNC against an inode for
  * enormous amounts of time, which would block a userspace task which has
  * been forced to throttle against that inode.  Also, the code reevaluates
  * the dirty each time it has written this many pages.