diff --git a/fs/fs-writeback.c b/fs/fs-writeback.c
index 08f5496fcf1b..25458fa4753d 100644
--- a/fs/fs-writeback.c
+++ b/fs/fs-writeback.c
@@ -618,10 +618,18 @@ void wbc_account_io(struct writeback_control *wbc, struct page *page,
  */
 int inode_congested(struct inode *inode, int cong_bits)
 {
-	if (inode) {
-		struct bdi_writeback *wb = inode_to_wb(inode);
-		if (wb)
-			return wb_congested(wb, cong_bits);
+	/*
+	 * Once set, ->i_wb never becomes NULL while the inode is alive.
+	 * Start transaction iff ->i_wb is visible.
+	 */
+	if (inode && inode_to_wb(inode)) {
+		struct bdi_writeback *wb;
+		bool locked, congested;
+
+		wb = unlocked_inode_to_wb_begin(inode, &locked);
+		congested = wb_congested(wb, cong_bits);
+		unlocked_inode_to_wb_end(inode, locked);
+		return congested;
 	}
 
 	return wb_congested(&inode_to_bdi(inode)->wb, cong_bits);