diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c b/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c
index b764d7d898e9..00388d2a3c99 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c
@@ -174,12 +174,13 @@ static const struct file_operations exports_operations = {
 };
 
 extern int nfsd_pool_stats_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file);
+extern int nfsd_pool_stats_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file);
 
 static struct file_operations pool_stats_operations = {
 	.open		= nfsd_pool_stats_open,
 	.read		= seq_read,
 	.llseek		= seq_lseek,
-	.release	= seq_release,
+	.release	= nfsd_pool_stats_release,
 	.owner		= THIS_MODULE,
 };
 
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c b/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
index d68cd056b281..675d395c4ab6 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfssvc.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include <linux/nfsd/syscall.h>
 #include <linux/lockd/bind.h>
 #include <linux/nfsacl.h>
+#include <linux/seq_file.h>
 
 #define NFSDDBG_FACILITY	NFSDDBG_SVC
 
@@ -614,7 +615,25 @@ nfsd_dispatch(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, __be32 *statp)
 
 int nfsd_pool_stats_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 {
-	if (nfsd_serv == NULL)
+	int ret;
+	mutex_lock(&nfsd_mutex);
+	if (nfsd_serv == NULL) {
+		mutex_unlock(&nfsd_mutex);
 		return -ENODEV;
-	return svc_pool_stats_open(nfsd_serv, file);
+	}
+	/* bump up the psudo refcount while traversing */
+	svc_get(nfsd_serv);
+	ret = svc_pool_stats_open(nfsd_serv, file);
+	mutex_unlock(&nfsd_mutex);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+int nfsd_pool_stats_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
+{
+	int ret = seq_release(inode, file);
+	mutex_lock(&nfsd_mutex);
+	/* this function really, really should have been called svc_put() */
+	svc_destroy(nfsd_serv);
+	mutex_unlock(&nfsd_mutex);
+	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/net/sunrpc/svc_xprt.c b/net/sunrpc/svc_xprt.c
index 27d44332f017..dcd2d1ee2e3c 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/svc_xprt.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/svc_xprt.c
@@ -1166,11 +1166,6 @@ static void *svc_pool_stats_start(struct seq_file *m, loff_t *pos)
 
 	dprintk("svc_pool_stats_start, *pidx=%u\n", pidx);
 
-	lock_kernel();
-	/* bump up the pseudo refcount while traversing */
-	svc_get(serv);
-	unlock_kernel();
-
 	if (!pidx)
 		return SEQ_START_TOKEN;
 	return (pidx > serv->sv_nrpools ? NULL : &serv->sv_pools[pidx-1]);
@@ -1198,12 +1193,6 @@ static void *svc_pool_stats_next(struct seq_file *m, void *p, loff_t *pos)
 
 static void svc_pool_stats_stop(struct seq_file *m, void *p)
 {
-	struct svc_serv *serv = m->private;
-
-	lock_kernel();
-	/* this function really, really should have been called svc_put() */
-	svc_destroy(serv);
-	unlock_kernel();
 }
 
 static int svc_pool_stats_show(struct seq_file *m, void *p)