diff --git a/fs/namespace.c b/fs/namespace.c
index d946298691ed..c9b2983ae011 100644
--- a/fs/namespace.c
+++ b/fs/namespace.c
@@ -3968,6 +3968,23 @@ static int can_idmap_mount(const struct mount_kattr *kattr, struct mount *mnt)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/**
+ * mnt_allow_writers() - check whether the attribute change allows writers
+ * @kattr: the new mount attributes
+ * @mnt: the mount to which @kattr will be applied
+ *
+ * Check whether thew new mount attributes in @kattr allow concurrent writers.
+ *
+ * Return: true if writers need to be held, false if not
+ */
+static inline bool mnt_allow_writers(const struct mount_kattr *kattr,
+				     const struct mount *mnt)
+{
+	return (!(kattr->attr_set & MNT_READONLY) ||
+		(mnt->mnt.mnt_flags & MNT_READONLY)) &&
+	       !kattr->mnt_userns;
+}
+
 static struct mount *mount_setattr_prepare(struct mount_kattr *kattr,
 					   struct mount *mnt, int *err)
 {
@@ -3998,8 +4015,7 @@ static struct mount *mount_setattr_prepare(struct mount_kattr *kattr,
 
 		last = m;
 
-		if ((kattr->attr_set & MNT_READONLY) &&
-		    !(m->mnt.mnt_flags & MNT_READONLY)) {
+		if (!mnt_allow_writers(kattr, m)) {
 			*err = mnt_hold_writers(m);
 			if (*err)
 				goto out;
@@ -4050,13 +4066,8 @@ static void mount_setattr_commit(struct mount_kattr *kattr,
 			WRITE_ONCE(m->mnt.mnt_flags, flags);
 		}
 
-		/*
-		 * We either set MNT_READONLY above so make it visible
-		 * before ~MNT_WRITE_HOLD or we failed to recursively
-		 * apply mount options.
-		 */
-		if ((kattr->attr_set & MNT_READONLY) &&
-		    (m->mnt.mnt_flags & MNT_WRITE_HOLD))
+		/* If we had to hold writers unblock them. */
+		if (m->mnt.mnt_flags & MNT_WRITE_HOLD)
 			mnt_unhold_writers(m);
 
 		if (!err && kattr->propagation)