diff --git a/fs/resctrl/rdtgroup.c b/fs/resctrl/rdtgroup.c
index 1312b52c7f7b..ce277f16ea12 100644
--- a/fs/resctrl/rdtgroup.c
+++ b/fs/resctrl/rdtgroup.c
@@ -587,14 +587,20 @@ static ssize_t rdtgroup_cpus_write(struct kernfs_open_file *of,
  *
  * On resource group creation via a mkdir, an extra kernfs_node reference is
  * taken to ensure that the rdtgroup structure remains accessible for the
- * rdtgroup_kn_unlock() calls where it is removed.
+ * rdtgroup_kn_unlock() calls where it is removed. The default group is
+ * statically allocated: it does not have an extra reference but will have
+ * RDT_DELETED set on unmount to support safe access to its associated files
+ * via rdtgroup_kn_lock_live/rdtgroup_kn_unlock().
  *
- * Drop the extra reference here, then free the rdtgroup structure.
+ * For all but the default group: drop the extra reference, then free the
+ * rdtgroup structure.
  *
  * Return: void
  */
 static void rdtgroup_remove(struct rdtgroup *rdtgrp)
 {
+	if (rdtgrp == &rdtgroup_default)
+		return;
 	kernfs_put(rdtgrp->kn);
 	kfree(rdtgrp);
 }
@@ -2814,6 +2820,12 @@ static int rdt_get_tree(struct fs_context *fc)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
+	/* Avoid races from pending operations from a previous mount */
+	if (atomic_read(&rdtgroup_default.waitcount) != 0) {
+		ret = -EBUSY;
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	ret = setup_rmid_lru_list();
 	if (ret)
 		goto out;
@@ -3177,6 +3189,7 @@ static void resctrl_fs_teardown(void)
 	mon_put_kn_priv();
 	rdt_pseudo_lock_release();
 	rdtgroup_default.mode = RDT_MODE_SHAREABLE;
+	rdtgroup_default.flags = RDT_DELETED;
 	closid_exit();
 	schemata_list_destroy();
 	rdtgroup_destroy_root();
@@ -4277,6 +4290,7 @@ static int rdtgroup_setup_root(struct rdt_fs_context *ctx)
 
 	ctx->kfc.root = rdt_root;
 	rdtgroup_default.kn = kernfs_root_to_node(rdt_root);
+	rdtgroup_default.flags = 0;
 
 	return 0;
 }