diff --git a/fs/cifs/cifsglob.h b/fs/cifs/cifsglob.h
index 5b18d4585740..585ad3207cb1 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/cifsglob.h
+++ b/fs/cifs/cifsglob.h
@@ -1333,6 +1333,7 @@ cifsFileInfo_get_locked(struct cifsFileInfo *cifs_file)
 }
 
 struct cifsFileInfo *cifsFileInfo_get(struct cifsFileInfo *cifs_file);
+void _cifsFileInfo_put(struct cifsFileInfo *cifs_file, bool wait_oplock_hdlr);
 void cifsFileInfo_put(struct cifsFileInfo *cifs_file);
 
 #define CIFS_CACHE_READ_FLG	1
@@ -1855,6 +1856,7 @@ GLOBAL_EXTERN spinlock_t gidsidlock;
 #endif /* CONFIG_CIFS_ACL */
 
 void cifs_oplock_break(struct work_struct *work);
+void cifs_queue_oplock_break(struct cifsFileInfo *cfile);
 
 extern const struct slow_work_ops cifs_oplock_break_ops;
 extern struct workqueue_struct *cifsiod_wq;
diff --git a/fs/cifs/file.c b/fs/cifs/file.c
index 89006e044973..9c0ccc06d172 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/file.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/file.c
@@ -360,12 +360,30 @@ cifsFileInfo_get(struct cifsFileInfo *cifs_file)
 	return cifs_file;
 }
 
-/*
- * Release a reference on the file private data. This may involve closing
- * the filehandle out on the server. Must be called without holding
- * tcon->open_file_lock and cifs_file->file_info_lock.
+/**
+ * cifsFileInfo_put - release a reference of file priv data
+ *
+ * Always potentially wait for oplock handler. See _cifsFileInfo_put().
  */
 void cifsFileInfo_put(struct cifsFileInfo *cifs_file)
+{
+	_cifsFileInfo_put(cifs_file, true);
+}
+
+/**
+ * _cifsFileInfo_put - release a reference of file priv data
+ *
+ * This may involve closing the filehandle @cifs_file out on the
+ * server. Must be called without holding tcon->open_file_lock and
+ * cifs_file->file_info_lock.
+ *
+ * If @wait_for_oplock_handler is true and we are releasing the last
+ * reference, wait for any running oplock break handler of the file
+ * and cancel any pending one. If calling this function from the
+ * oplock break handler, you need to pass false.
+ *
+ */
+void _cifsFileInfo_put(struct cifsFileInfo *cifs_file, bool wait_oplock_handler)
 {
 	struct inode *inode = d_inode(cifs_file->dentry);
 	struct cifs_tcon *tcon = tlink_tcon(cifs_file->tlink);
@@ -414,7 +432,8 @@ void cifsFileInfo_put(struct cifsFileInfo *cifs_file)
 
 	spin_unlock(&tcon->open_file_lock);
 
-	oplock_break_cancelled = cancel_work_sync(&cifs_file->oplock_break);
+	oplock_break_cancelled = wait_oplock_handler ?
+		cancel_work_sync(&cifs_file->oplock_break) : false;
 
 	if (!tcon->need_reconnect && !cifs_file->invalidHandle) {
 		struct TCP_Server_Info *server = tcon->ses->server;
@@ -4603,6 +4622,7 @@ void cifs_oplock_break(struct work_struct *work)
 							     cinode);
 		cifs_dbg(FYI, "Oplock release rc = %d\n", rc);
 	}
+	_cifsFileInfo_put(cfile, false /* do not wait for ourself */);
 	cifs_done_oplock_break(cinode);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/cifs/misc.c b/fs/cifs/misc.c
index bee203055b30..1e1626a2cfc3 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/misc.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/misc.c
@@ -501,8 +501,7 @@ is_valid_oplock_break(char *buffer, struct TCP_Server_Info *srv)
 					   CIFS_INODE_DOWNGRADE_OPLOCK_TO_L2,
 					   &pCifsInode->flags);
 
-				queue_work(cifsoplockd_wq,
-					   &netfile->oplock_break);
+				cifs_queue_oplock_break(netfile);
 				netfile->oplock_break_cancelled = false;
 
 				spin_unlock(&tcon->open_file_lock);
@@ -607,6 +606,28 @@ void cifs_put_writer(struct cifsInodeInfo *cinode)
 	spin_unlock(&cinode->writers_lock);
 }
 
+/**
+ * cifs_queue_oplock_break - queue the oplock break handler for cfile
+ *
+ * This function is called from the demultiplex thread when it
+ * receives an oplock break for @cfile.
+ *
+ * Assumes the tcon->open_file_lock is held.
+ * Assumes cfile->file_info_lock is NOT held.
+ */
+void cifs_queue_oplock_break(struct cifsFileInfo *cfile)
+{
+	/*
+	 * Bump the handle refcount now while we hold the
+	 * open_file_lock to enforce the validity of it for the oplock
+	 * break handler. The matching put is done at the end of the
+	 * handler.
+	 */
+	cifsFileInfo_get(cfile);
+
+	queue_work(cifsoplockd_wq, &cfile->oplock_break);
+}
+
 void cifs_done_oplock_break(struct cifsInodeInfo *cinode)
 {
 	clear_bit(CIFS_INODE_PENDING_OPLOCK_BREAK, &cinode->flags);
diff --git a/fs/cifs/smb2misc.c b/fs/cifs/smb2misc.c
index 0e3570e40ff8..e311f58dc1c8 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/smb2misc.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/smb2misc.c
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ smb2_tcon_has_lease(struct cifs_tcon *tcon, struct smb2_lease_break *rsp,
 			clear_bit(CIFS_INODE_DOWNGRADE_OPLOCK_TO_L2,
 				  &cinode->flags);
 
-		queue_work(cifsoplockd_wq, &cfile->oplock_break);
+		cifs_queue_oplock_break(cfile);
 		kfree(lw);
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -712,8 +712,8 @@ smb2_is_valid_oplock_break(char *buffer, struct TCP_Server_Info *server)
 					   CIFS_INODE_DOWNGRADE_OPLOCK_TO_L2,
 					   &cinode->flags);
 				spin_unlock(&cfile->file_info_lock);
-				queue_work(cifsoplockd_wq,
-					   &cfile->oplock_break);
+
+				cifs_queue_oplock_break(cfile);
 
 				spin_unlock(&tcon->open_file_lock);
 				spin_unlock(&cifs_tcp_ses_lock);