diff --git a/drivers/usb/gadget/function/f_tcm.c b/drivers/usb/gadget/function/f_tcm.c
index b3fa5a17fd2d..c727c19db25d 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/gadget/function/f_tcm.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/gadget/function/f_tcm.c
@@ -1675,19 +1675,25 @@ static struct se_portal_group *usbg_make_tpg(struct se_wwn *wwn,
 
 	opts = container_of(tpg_instances[i].func_inst, struct f_tcm_opts,
 		func_inst);
-	mutex_lock(&opts->dep_lock);
-	if (!opts->ready)
-		goto unlock_dep;
+	if (!READ_ONCE(opts->ready))
+		goto unlock_inst;
 
 	if (opts->has_dep) {
 		if (!try_module_get(opts->dependent))
-			goto unlock_dep;
+			goto unlock_inst;
 	} else {
+		/*
+		 * configfs_depend_item_unlocked() may acquire the configfs
+		 * root inode lock when the target belongs to a different
+		 * subsystem. Calling it under dep_lock would create a
+		 * circular dependency:
+		 *   dep_lock -> configfs inode lock -> su_mutex -> dep_lock
+		 */
 		ret = configfs_depend_item_unlocked(
 			wwn->wwn_group.cg_subsys,
 			&opts->func_inst.group.cg_item);
 		if (ret)
-			goto unlock_dep;
+			goto unlock_inst;
 	}
 
 	tpg = kzalloc_obj(struct usbg_tpg);
@@ -1714,7 +1720,6 @@ static struct se_portal_group *usbg_make_tpg(struct se_wwn *wwn,
 
 	tpg_instances[i].tpg = tpg;
 	tpg->fi = tpg_instances[i].func_inst;
-	mutex_unlock(&opts->dep_lock);
 	mutex_unlock(&tpg_instances_lock);
 	return &tpg->se_tpg;
 
@@ -1727,8 +1732,6 @@ static struct se_portal_group *usbg_make_tpg(struct se_wwn *wwn,
 		module_put(opts->dependent);
 	else
 		configfs_undepend_item_unlocked(&opts->func_inst.group.cg_item);
-unlock_dep:
-	mutex_unlock(&opts->dep_lock);
 unlock_inst:
 	mutex_unlock(&tpg_instances_lock);
 
@@ -2666,9 +2669,7 @@ static int tcm_set_name(struct usb_function_instance *f, const char *name)
 
 	pr_debug("tcm: Activating %s\n", name);
 
-	mutex_lock(&opts->dep_lock);
-	opts->ready = true;
-	mutex_unlock(&opts->dep_lock);
+	WRITE_ONCE(opts->ready, true);
 
 	return 0;
 }