diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.c
index efd040094753..2ec005e6c1da 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.c
@@ -747,6 +747,8 @@ xfs_inode_inherit_flags2(
 /*
  * Initialise a newly allocated inode and return the in-core inode to the
  * caller locked exclusively.
+ *
+ * Caller is responsible for unlocking the inode manually upon return
  */
 int
 xfs_init_new_inode(
@@ -873,7 +875,7 @@ xfs_init_new_inode(
 	/*
 	 * Log the new values stuffed into the inode.
 	 */
-	xfs_trans_ijoin(tp, ip, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
+	xfs_trans_ijoin(tp, ip, 0);
 	xfs_trans_log_inode(tp, ip, flags);
 
 	/* now that we have an i_mode we can setup the inode structure */
@@ -1101,8 +1103,7 @@ xfs_create(
 	 * the transaction cancel unlocking dp so don't do it explicitly in the
 	 * error path.
 	 */
-	xfs_trans_ijoin(tp, dp, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
-	unlock_dp_on_error = false;
+	xfs_trans_ijoin(tp, dp, 0);
 
 	error = xfs_dir_createname(tp, dp, name, ip->i_ino,
 					resblks - XFS_IALLOC_SPACE_RES(mp));
@@ -1151,6 +1152,8 @@ xfs_create(
 	xfs_qm_dqrele(pdqp);
 
 	*ipp = ip;
+	xfs_iunlock(ip, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
+	xfs_iunlock(dp, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
 	return 0;
 
  out_trans_cancel:
@@ -1162,6 +1165,7 @@ xfs_create(
 	 * transactions and deadlocks from xfs_inactive.
 	 */
 	if (ip) {
+		xfs_iunlock(ip, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
 		xfs_finish_inode_setup(ip);
 		xfs_irele(ip);
 	}
@@ -1247,6 +1251,7 @@ xfs_create_tmpfile(
 	xfs_qm_dqrele(pdqp);
 
 	*ipp = ip;
+	xfs_iunlock(ip, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
 	return 0;
 
  out_trans_cancel:
@@ -1258,6 +1263,7 @@ xfs_create_tmpfile(
 	 * transactions and deadlocks from xfs_inactive.
 	 */
 	if (ip) {
+		xfs_iunlock(ip, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
 		xfs_finish_inode_setup(ip);
 		xfs_irele(ip);
 	}
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_qm.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_qm.c
index 0f4cf4170c35..47120b745c47 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_qm.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_qm.c
@@ -836,8 +836,10 @@ xfs_qm_qino_alloc(
 		ASSERT(xfs_is_shutdown(mp));
 		xfs_alert(mp, "%s failed (error %d)!", __func__, error);
 	}
-	if (need_alloc)
+	if (need_alloc) {
+		xfs_iunlock(*ipp, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
 		xfs_finish_inode_setup(*ipp);
+	}
 	return error;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_symlink.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_symlink.c
index fb060aaf6d40..85ef56fdd7df 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_symlink.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_symlink.c
@@ -172,8 +172,7 @@ xfs_symlink(
 	 * the transaction cancel unlocking dp so don't do it explicitly in the
 	 * error path.
 	 */
-	xfs_trans_ijoin(tp, dp, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
-	unlock_dp_on_error = false;
+	xfs_trans_ijoin(tp, dp, 0);
 
 	/*
 	 * Also attach the dquot(s) to it, if applicable.
@@ -215,6 +214,8 @@ xfs_symlink(
 	xfs_qm_dqrele(pdqp);
 
 	*ipp = ip;
+	xfs_iunlock(ip, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
+	xfs_iunlock(dp, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
 	return 0;
 
 out_trans_cancel:
@@ -226,6 +227,7 @@ out_release_inode:
 	 * transactions and deadlocks from xfs_inactive.
 	 */
 	if (ip) {
+		xfs_iunlock(ip, XFS_ILOCK_EXCL);
 		xfs_finish_inode_setup(ip);
 		xfs_irele(ip);
 	}