diff --git a/fs/coda/cache.c b/fs/coda/cache.c
index 970f0022ec52..245131296300 100644
--- a/fs/coda/cache.c
+++ b/fs/coda/cache.c
@@ -93,12 +93,14 @@ static void coda_flag_children(struct dentry *parent, int flag)
 	struct dentry *de;
 
 	spin_lock(&parent->d_lock);
+	rcu_read_lock();
 	hlist_for_each_entry(de, &parent->d_children, d_sib) {
 		struct inode *inode = d_inode_rcu(de);
 		/* don't know what to do with negative dentries */
 		if (inode)
 			coda_flag_inode(inode, flag);
 	}
+	rcu_read_unlock();
 	spin_unlock(&parent->d_lock);
 }