diff --git a/fs/nfs/pagelist.c b/fs/nfs/pagelist.c
index 3b006bcbcc87..e48cc69a2361 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/pagelist.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/pagelist.c
@@ -187,25 +187,6 @@ nfs_async_iocounter_wait(struct rpc_task *task, struct nfs_lock_context *l_ctx)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(nfs_async_iocounter_wait);
 
-/*
- * nfs_page_lock_head_request - page lock the head of the page group
- * @req: any member of the page group
- */
-struct nfs_page *
-nfs_page_group_lock_head(struct nfs_page *req)
-{
-	struct nfs_page *head = req->wb_head;
-
-	while (!nfs_lock_request(head)) {
-		int ret = nfs_wait_on_request(head);
-		if (ret < 0)
-			return ERR_PTR(ret);
-	}
-	if (head != req)
-		kref_get(&head->wb_kref);
-	return head;
-}
-
 /*
  * nfs_unroll_locks -  unlock all newly locked reqs and wait on @req
  * @head: head request of page group, must be holding head lock
diff --git a/fs/nfs/write.c b/fs/nfs/write.c
index a56bb49af55a..69336bca26f5 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/write.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/write.c
@@ -197,28 +197,32 @@ static struct nfs_page *nfs_folio_find_head_request(struct folio *folio)
 static struct nfs_page *nfs_folio_find_and_lock_request(struct folio *folio)
 {
 	struct inode *inode = folio->mapping->host;
-	struct nfs_page *req, *head;
+	struct nfs_page *head;
 	int ret;
 
-	for (;;) {
-		req = nfs_folio_find_head_request(folio);
-		if (!req)
-			return req;
-		head = nfs_page_group_lock_head(req);
-		if (head != req)
-			nfs_release_request(req);
-		if (IS_ERR(head))
-			return head;
-		ret = nfs_cancel_remove_inode(head, inode);
-		if (ret < 0) {
-			nfs_unlock_and_release_request(head);
+retry:
+	head = nfs_folio_find_head_request(folio);
+	if (!head)
+		return NULL;
+
+	while (!nfs_lock_request(head)) {
+		ret = nfs_wait_on_request(head);
+		if (ret < 0)
 			return ERR_PTR(ret);
-		}
-		/* Ensure that nobody removed the request before we locked it */
-		if (head == folio->private)
-			break;
-		nfs_unlock_and_release_request(head);
 	}
+
+	/* Ensure that nobody removed the request before we locked it */
+	if (head != folio->private) {
+		nfs_unlock_and_release_request(head);
+		goto retry;
+	}
+
+	ret = nfs_cancel_remove_inode(head, inode);
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		nfs_unlock_and_release_request(head);
+		return ERR_PTR(ret);
+	}
+
 	return head;
 }
 
diff --git a/include/linux/nfs_page.h b/include/linux/nfs_page.h
index 7bc31df457ea..e799d93626f1 100644
--- a/include/linux/nfs_page.h
+++ b/include/linux/nfs_page.h
@@ -155,7 +155,6 @@ extern size_t nfs_generic_pg_test(struct nfs_pageio_descriptor *desc,
 extern  int nfs_wait_on_request(struct nfs_page *);
 extern	void nfs_unlock_request(struct nfs_page *req);
 extern	void nfs_unlock_and_release_request(struct nfs_page *);
-extern	struct nfs_page *nfs_page_group_lock_head(struct nfs_page *req);
 extern	int nfs_page_group_lock_subrequests(struct nfs_page *head);
 extern void nfs_join_page_group(struct nfs_page *head,
 				struct nfs_commit_info *cinfo,