diff --git a/include/linux/wait_bit.h b/include/linux/wait_bit.h
index af0d495430d7..bc96d90bcafd 100644
--- a/include/linux/wait_bit.h
+++ b/include/linux/wait_bit.h
@@ -259,4 +259,21 @@ int wait_on_atomic_t(atomic_t *val, int (*action)(atomic_t *), unsigned mode)
 	return out_of_line_wait_on_atomic_t(val, action, mode);
 }
 
+/**
+ * clear_and_wake_up_bit - clear a bit and wake up anyone waiting on that bit
+ *
+ * @bit: the bit of the word being waited on
+ * @word: the word being waited on, a kernel virtual address
+ *
+ * You can use this helper if bitflags are manipulated atomically rather than
+ * non-atomically under a lock.
+ */
+static inline void clear_and_wake_up_bit(int bit, void *word)
+{
+	clear_bit_unlock(bit, word);
+	/* See wake_up_bit() for which memory barrier you need to use. */
+	smp_mb__after_atomic();
+	wake_up_bit(word, bit);
+}
+
 #endif /* _LINUX_WAIT_BIT_H */
diff --git a/mm/backing-dev.c b/mm/backing-dev.c
index e19606bb41a0..dee049a0ec5b 100644
--- a/mm/backing-dev.c
+++ b/mm/backing-dev.c
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ static void wb_shutdown(struct bdi_writeback *wb)
 	 * the barrier provided by test_and_clear_bit() above.
 	 */
 	smp_wmb();
-	clear_bit(WB_shutting_down, &wb->state);
+	clear_and_wake_up_bit(WB_shutting_down, &wb->state);
 }
 
 static void wb_exit(struct bdi_writeback *wb)