diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/file.c b/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
index 2b8f5ed4adea..2258b8f654a6 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/file.c
@@ -195,7 +195,9 @@ static int ecryptfs_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 		file, ecryptfs_inode_to_private(inode)->lower_file);
 	if (S_ISDIR(ecryptfs_dentry->d_inode->i_mode)) {
 		ecryptfs_printk(KERN_DEBUG, "This is a directory\n");
+		mutex_lock(&crypt_stat->cs_mutex);
 		crypt_stat->flags &= ~(ECRYPTFS_ENCRYPTED);
+		mutex_unlock(&crypt_stat->cs_mutex);
 		rc = 0;
 		goto out;
 	}