if (!S_ISDIR(inode->i_mode))
                        flags &= ~EXT2_DIRSYNC_FL;
 
+               mutex_lock(&inode->i_mutex);
                oldflags = ei->i_flags;
 
                /*
                 * This test looks nicer. Thanks to Pauline Middelink
                 */
                if ((flags ^ oldflags) & (EXT2_APPEND_FL | EXT2_IMMUTABLE_FL)) {
-                       if (!capable(CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE))
+                       if (!capable(CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE)) {
+                               mutex_unlock(&inode->i_mutex);
                                return -EPERM;
+                       }
                }
 
                flags = flags & EXT2_FL_USER_MODIFIABLE;
                flags |= oldflags & ~EXT2_FL_USER_MODIFIABLE;
                ei->i_flags = flags;
+               mutex_unlock(&inode->i_mutex);
 
                ext2_set_inode_flags(inode);
                inode->i_ctime = CURRENT_TIME_SEC;