diff --git a/fs/ext4/inode.c b/fs/ext4/inode.c
index ed39c71504bf..ad25b85b9836 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/inode.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/inode.c
@@ -6511,6 +6511,16 @@ static int ext4_try_to_expand_extra_isize(struct inode *inode,
 	if (ext4_test_inode_state(inode, EXT4_STATE_NO_EXPAND))
 		return -EOVERFLOW;
 
+	/*
+	 * Skip expansion during mount (!SB_ACTIVE).  Expanding extra isize
+	 * may move xattrs to external blocks and release ea_inodes via iput.
+	 * When !SB_ACTIVE, iput triggers write_inode_now() which acquires
+	 * s_writepages_rwsem, causing a deadlock with the caller's active
+	 * jbd2 handle (lock order: s_writepages_rwsem -> jbd2_handle).
+	 */
+	if (unlikely(!(inode->i_sb->s_flags & SB_ACTIVE)))
+		return -EBUSY;
+
 	/*
 	 * In nojournal mode, we can immediately attempt to expand
 	 * the inode.  When journaled, we first need to obtain extra