diff --git a/kernel/watchdog.c b/kernel/watchdog.c
index b8d4182d14cc..8cf0678378d2 100644
--- a/kernel/watchdog.c
+++ b/kernel/watchdog.c
@@ -410,11 +410,12 @@ static enum hrtimer_restart watchdog_timer_fn(struct hrtimer *hrtimer)
 		if (kvm_check_and_clear_guest_paused())
 			return HRTIMER_RESTART;
 
+		/*
+		 * Prevent multiple soft-lockup reports if one cpu is already
+		 * engaged in dumping all cpu back traces.
+		 */
 		if (softlockup_all_cpu_backtrace) {
-			/* Prevent multiple soft-lockup reports if one cpu is already
-			 * engaged in dumping cpu back traces
-			 */
-			if (test_and_set_bit(0, &soft_lockup_nmi_warn))
+			if (test_and_set_bit_lock(0, &soft_lockup_nmi_warn))
 				return HRTIMER_RESTART;
 		}
 
@@ -432,14 +433,8 @@ static enum hrtimer_restart watchdog_timer_fn(struct hrtimer *hrtimer)
 			dump_stack();
 
 		if (softlockup_all_cpu_backtrace) {
-			/* Avoid generating two back traces for current
-			 * given that one is already made above
-			 */
 			trigger_allbutself_cpu_backtrace();
-
-			clear_bit(0, &soft_lockup_nmi_warn);
-			/* Barrier to sync with other cpus */
-			smp_mb__after_atomic();
+			clear_bit_unlock(0, &soft_lockup_nmi_warn);
 		}
 
 		add_taint(TAINT_SOFTLOCKUP, LOCKDEP_STILL_OK);