diff --git a/fs/fscache/cookie.c b/fs/fscache/cookie.c
index bce2492186d0b4..d4d4b3a8b10603 100644
--- a/fs/fscache/cookie.c
+++ b/fs/fscache/cookie.c
@@ -741,6 +741,10 @@ static void fscache_cookie_state_machine(struct fscache_cookie *cookie)
 			spin_lock(&cookie->lock);
 		}
 		if (test_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_DO_LRU_DISCARD, &cookie->flags)) {
+			if (atomic_read(&cookie->n_accesses) != 0)
+				/* still being accessed: postpone it */
+				break;
+
 			__fscache_set_cookie_state(cookie,
 						   FSCACHE_COOKIE_STATE_LRU_DISCARDING);
 			wake = true;