diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/blockcheck.c b/fs/ocfs2/blockcheck.c
index 429e6a8359a5..eaf042feaf5e 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/blockcheck.c
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/blockcheck.c
@@ -231,14 +231,6 @@ static int blockcheck_u64_get(void *data, u64 *val)
 }
 DEFINE_SIMPLE_ATTRIBUTE(blockcheck_fops, blockcheck_u64_get, NULL, "%llu\n");
 
-static struct dentry *blockcheck_debugfs_create(const char *name,
-						struct dentry *parent,
-						u64 *value)
-{
-	return debugfs_create_file(name, S_IFREG | S_IRUSR, parent, value,
-				   &blockcheck_fops);
-}
-
 static void ocfs2_blockcheck_debug_remove(struct ocfs2_blockcheck_stats *stats)
 {
 	if (stats) {
@@ -250,16 +242,20 @@ static void ocfs2_blockcheck_debug_remove(struct ocfs2_blockcheck_stats *stats)
 static void ocfs2_blockcheck_debug_install(struct ocfs2_blockcheck_stats *stats,
 					   struct dentry *parent)
 {
-	stats->b_debug_dir = debugfs_create_dir("blockcheck", parent);
+	struct dentry *dir;
 
-	blockcheck_debugfs_create("blocks_checked", stats->b_debug_dir,
-				  &stats->b_check_count);
+	dir = debugfs_create_dir("blockcheck", parent);
+	stats->b_debug_dir = dir;
 
-	blockcheck_debugfs_create("checksums_failed", stats->b_debug_dir,
-				  &stats->b_failure_count);
+	debugfs_create_file("blocks_checked", S_IFREG | S_IRUSR, dir,
+			    &stats->b_check_count, &blockcheck_fops);
+
+	debugfs_create_file("checksums_failed", S_IFREG | S_IRUSR, dir,
+			    &stats->b_failure_count, &blockcheck_fops);
+
+	debugfs_create_file("ecc_recoveries", S_IFREG | S_IRUSR, dir,
+			    &stats->b_recover_count, &blockcheck_fops);
 
-	blockcheck_debugfs_create("ecc_recoveries", stats->b_debug_dir,
-				  &stats->b_recover_count);
 }
 #else
 static inline void ocfs2_blockcheck_debug_install(struct ocfs2_blockcheck_stats *stats,
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/cluster/heartbeat.c b/fs/ocfs2/cluster/heartbeat.c
index f1b613327ac8..a368350d4c27 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/cluster/heartbeat.c
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/cluster/heartbeat.c
@@ -225,10 +225,6 @@ struct o2hb_region {
 	unsigned int		hr_region_num;
 
 	struct dentry		*hr_debug_dir;
-	struct dentry		*hr_debug_livenodes;
-	struct dentry		*hr_debug_regnum;
-	struct dentry		*hr_debug_elapsed_time;
-	struct dentry		*hr_debug_pinned;
 	struct o2hb_debug_buf	*hr_db_livenodes;
 	struct o2hb_debug_buf	*hr_db_regnum;
 	struct o2hb_debug_buf	*hr_db_elapsed_time;
@@ -1394,21 +1390,20 @@ void o2hb_exit(void)
 	kfree(o2hb_db_failedregions);
 }
 
-static struct dentry *o2hb_debug_create(const char *name, struct dentry *dir,
-					struct o2hb_debug_buf **db, int db_len,
-					int type, int size, int len, void *data)
+static void o2hb_debug_create(const char *name, struct dentry *dir,
+			      struct o2hb_debug_buf **db, int db_len, int type,
+			      int size, int len, void *data)
 {
 	*db = kmalloc(db_len, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!*db)
-		return NULL;
+		return;
 
 	(*db)->db_type = type;
 	(*db)->db_size = size;
 	(*db)->db_len = len;
 	(*db)->db_data = data;
 
-	return debugfs_create_file(name, S_IFREG|S_IRUSR, dir, *db,
-				   &o2hb_debug_fops);
+	debugfs_create_file(name, S_IFREG|S_IRUSR, dir, *db, &o2hb_debug_fops);
 }
 
 static void o2hb_debug_init(void)
@@ -1525,11 +1520,7 @@ static void o2hb_region_release(struct config_item *item)
 
 	kfree(reg->hr_slots);
 
-	debugfs_remove(reg->hr_debug_livenodes);
-	debugfs_remove(reg->hr_debug_regnum);
-	debugfs_remove(reg->hr_debug_elapsed_time);
-	debugfs_remove(reg->hr_debug_pinned);
-	debugfs_remove(reg->hr_debug_dir);
+	debugfs_remove_recursive(reg->hr_debug_dir);
 	kfree(reg->hr_db_livenodes);
 	kfree(reg->hr_db_regnum);
 	kfree(reg->hr_db_elapsed_time);
@@ -1988,69 +1979,33 @@ static struct o2hb_heartbeat_group *to_o2hb_heartbeat_group(struct config_group
 		: NULL;
 }
 
-static int o2hb_debug_region_init(struct o2hb_region *reg, struct dentry *dir)
+static void o2hb_debug_region_init(struct o2hb_region *reg,
+				   struct dentry *parent)
 {
-	int ret = -ENOMEM;
+	struct dentry *dir;
 
-	reg->hr_debug_dir =
-		debugfs_create_dir(config_item_name(&reg->hr_item), dir);
-	if (!reg->hr_debug_dir) {
-		mlog_errno(ret);
-		goto bail;
-	}
+	dir = debugfs_create_dir(config_item_name(&reg->hr_item), parent);
+	reg->hr_debug_dir = dir;
 
-	reg->hr_debug_livenodes =
-			o2hb_debug_create(O2HB_DEBUG_LIVENODES,
-					  reg->hr_debug_dir,
-					  &(reg->hr_db_livenodes),
-					  sizeof(*(reg->hr_db_livenodes)),
-					  O2HB_DB_TYPE_REGION_LIVENODES,
-					  sizeof(reg->hr_live_node_bitmap),
-					  O2NM_MAX_NODES, reg);
-	if (!reg->hr_debug_livenodes) {
-		mlog_errno(ret);
-		goto bail;
-	}
+	o2hb_debug_create(O2HB_DEBUG_LIVENODES, dir, &(reg->hr_db_livenodes),
+			  sizeof(*(reg->hr_db_livenodes)),
+			  O2HB_DB_TYPE_REGION_LIVENODES,
+			  sizeof(reg->hr_live_node_bitmap), O2NM_MAX_NODES,
+			  reg);
 
-	reg->hr_debug_regnum =
-			o2hb_debug_create(O2HB_DEBUG_REGION_NUMBER,
-					  reg->hr_debug_dir,
-					  &(reg->hr_db_regnum),
-					  sizeof(*(reg->hr_db_regnum)),
-					  O2HB_DB_TYPE_REGION_NUMBER,
-					  0, O2NM_MAX_NODES, reg);
-	if (!reg->hr_debug_regnum) {
-		mlog_errno(ret);
-		goto bail;
-	}
+	o2hb_debug_create(O2HB_DEBUG_REGION_NUMBER, dir, &(reg->hr_db_regnum),
+			  sizeof(*(reg->hr_db_regnum)),
+			  O2HB_DB_TYPE_REGION_NUMBER, 0, O2NM_MAX_NODES, reg);
 
-	reg->hr_debug_elapsed_time =
-			o2hb_debug_create(O2HB_DEBUG_REGION_ELAPSED_TIME,
-					  reg->hr_debug_dir,
-					  &(reg->hr_db_elapsed_time),
-					  sizeof(*(reg->hr_db_elapsed_time)),
-					  O2HB_DB_TYPE_REGION_ELAPSED_TIME,
-					  0, 0, reg);
-	if (!reg->hr_debug_elapsed_time) {
-		mlog_errno(ret);
-		goto bail;
-	}
+	o2hb_debug_create(O2HB_DEBUG_REGION_ELAPSED_TIME, dir,
+			  &(reg->hr_db_elapsed_time),
+			  sizeof(*(reg->hr_db_elapsed_time)),
+			  O2HB_DB_TYPE_REGION_ELAPSED_TIME, 0, 0, reg);
 
-	reg->hr_debug_pinned =
-			o2hb_debug_create(O2HB_DEBUG_REGION_PINNED,
-					  reg->hr_debug_dir,
-					  &(reg->hr_db_pinned),
-					  sizeof(*(reg->hr_db_pinned)),
-					  O2HB_DB_TYPE_REGION_PINNED,
-					  0, 0, reg);
-	if (!reg->hr_debug_pinned) {
-		mlog_errno(ret);
-		goto bail;
-	}
+	o2hb_debug_create(O2HB_DEBUG_REGION_PINNED, dir, &(reg->hr_db_pinned),
+			  sizeof(*(reg->hr_db_pinned)),
+			  O2HB_DB_TYPE_REGION_PINNED, 0, 0, reg);
 
-	ret = 0;
-bail:
-	return ret;
 }
 
 static struct config_item *o2hb_heartbeat_group_make_item(struct config_group *group,
@@ -2106,11 +2061,7 @@ static struct config_item *o2hb_heartbeat_group_make_item(struct config_group *g
 	if (ret)
 		goto unregister_handler;
 
-	ret = o2hb_debug_region_init(reg, o2hb_debug_dir);
-	if (ret) {
-		config_item_put(&reg->hr_item);
-		goto unregister_handler;
-	}
+	o2hb_debug_region_init(reg, o2hb_debug_dir);
 
 	return &reg->hr_item;
 
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmcommon.h b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmcommon.h
index 69a429b625cc..aaf24548b02a 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmcommon.h
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmcommon.h
@@ -142,7 +142,6 @@ struct dlm_ctxt
 	atomic_t res_tot_count;
 	atomic_t res_cur_count;
 
-	struct dlm_debug_ctxt *dlm_debug_ctxt;
 	struct dentry *dlm_debugfs_subroot;
 
 	/* NOTE: Next three are protected by dlm_domain_lock */
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdebug.c b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdebug.c
index a4b58ba99927..4d0b452012b2 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdebug.c
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdebug.c
@@ -853,67 +853,34 @@ static const struct file_operations debug_state_fops = {
 /* files in subroot */
 void dlm_debug_init(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
 {
-	struct dlm_debug_ctxt *dc = dlm->dlm_debug_ctxt;
-
 	/* for dumping dlm_ctxt */
-	dc->debug_state_dentry = debugfs_create_file(DLM_DEBUGFS_DLM_STATE,
-						     S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
-						     dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot,
-						     dlm, &debug_state_fops);
+	debugfs_create_file(DLM_DEBUGFS_DLM_STATE, S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
+			    dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot, dlm, &debug_state_fops);
 
 	/* for dumping lockres */
-	dc->debug_lockres_dentry =
-			debugfs_create_file(DLM_DEBUGFS_LOCKING_STATE,
-					    S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
-					    dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot,
-					    dlm, &debug_lockres_fops);
+	debugfs_create_file(DLM_DEBUGFS_LOCKING_STATE, S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
+			    dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot, dlm, &debug_lockres_fops);
 
 	/* for dumping mles */
-	dc->debug_mle_dentry = debugfs_create_file(DLM_DEBUGFS_MLE_STATE,
-						   S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
-						   dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot,
-						   dlm, &debug_mle_fops);
+	debugfs_create_file(DLM_DEBUGFS_MLE_STATE, S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
+			    dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot, dlm, &debug_mle_fops);
 
 	/* for dumping lockres on the purge list */
-	dc->debug_purgelist_dentry =
-			debugfs_create_file(DLM_DEBUGFS_PURGE_LIST,
-					    S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
-					    dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot,
-					    dlm, &debug_purgelist_fops);
-}
-
-void dlm_debug_shutdown(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
-{
-	struct dlm_debug_ctxt *dc = dlm->dlm_debug_ctxt;
-
-	if (dc) {
-		debugfs_remove(dc->debug_purgelist_dentry);
-		debugfs_remove(dc->debug_mle_dentry);
-		debugfs_remove(dc->debug_lockres_dentry);
-		debugfs_remove(dc->debug_state_dentry);
-		kfree(dc);
-		dc = NULL;
-	}
+	debugfs_create_file(DLM_DEBUGFS_PURGE_LIST, S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
+			    dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot, dlm,
+			    &debug_purgelist_fops);
 }
 
 /* subroot - domain dir */
-int dlm_create_debugfs_subroot(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
+void dlm_create_debugfs_subroot(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
 {
-	dlm->dlm_debug_ctxt = kzalloc(sizeof(struct dlm_debug_ctxt),
-				      GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!dlm->dlm_debug_ctxt) {
-		mlog_errno(-ENOMEM);
-		return -ENOMEM;
-	}
-
 	dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot = debugfs_create_dir(dlm->name,
 						      dlm_debugfs_root);
-	return 0;
 }
 
 void dlm_destroy_debugfs_subroot(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
 {
-	debugfs_remove(dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot);
+	debugfs_remove_recursive(dlm->dlm_debugfs_subroot);
 }
 
 /* debugfs root */
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdebug.h b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdebug.h
index 7d0c7c9013ce..f8fd8680a4b6 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdebug.h
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdebug.h
@@ -14,13 +14,6 @@ void dlm_print_one_mle(struct dlm_master_list_entry *mle);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_FS
 
-struct dlm_debug_ctxt {
-	struct dentry *debug_state_dentry;
-	struct dentry *debug_lockres_dentry;
-	struct dentry *debug_mle_dentry;
-	struct dentry *debug_purgelist_dentry;
-};
-
 struct debug_lockres {
 	int dl_len;
 	char *dl_buf;
@@ -29,9 +22,8 @@ struct debug_lockres {
 };
 
 void dlm_debug_init(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm);
-void dlm_debug_shutdown(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm);
 
-int dlm_create_debugfs_subroot(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm);
+void dlm_create_debugfs_subroot(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm);
 void dlm_destroy_debugfs_subroot(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm);
 
 void dlm_create_debugfs_root(void);
@@ -42,13 +34,9 @@ void dlm_destroy_debugfs_root(void);
 static inline void dlm_debug_init(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
 {
 }
-static inline void dlm_debug_shutdown(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
+static inline void dlm_create_debugfs_subroot(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
 {
 }
-static inline int dlm_create_debugfs_subroot(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
 static inline void dlm_destroy_debugfs_subroot(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
 {
 }
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdomain.c b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdomain.c
index 7338b5d4647c..ee6f459f9770 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdomain.c
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/dlm/dlmdomain.c
@@ -387,7 +387,6 @@ static void dlm_destroy_dlm_worker(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
 static void dlm_complete_dlm_shutdown(struct dlm_ctxt *dlm)
 {
 	dlm_unregister_domain_handlers(dlm);
-	dlm_debug_shutdown(dlm);
 	dlm_complete_thread(dlm);
 	dlm_complete_recovery_thread(dlm);
 	dlm_destroy_dlm_worker(dlm);
@@ -1938,7 +1937,6 @@ bail:
 
 	if (status) {
 		dlm_unregister_domain_handlers(dlm);
-		dlm_debug_shutdown(dlm);
 		dlm_complete_thread(dlm);
 		dlm_complete_recovery_thread(dlm);
 		dlm_destroy_dlm_worker(dlm);
@@ -1992,9 +1990,7 @@ static struct dlm_ctxt *dlm_alloc_ctxt(const char *domain,
 	dlm->key = key;
 	dlm->node_num = o2nm_this_node();
 
-	ret = dlm_create_debugfs_subroot(dlm);
-	if (ret < 0)
-		goto leave;
+	dlm_create_debugfs_subroot(dlm);
 
 	spin_lock_init(&dlm->spinlock);
 	spin_lock_init(&dlm->master_lock);
@@ -2056,6 +2052,7 @@ static struct dlm_ctxt *dlm_alloc_ctxt(const char *domain,
 	mlog(0, "context init: refcount %u\n",
 		  kref_read(&dlm->dlm_refs));
 
+	ret = 0;
 leave:
 	if (ret < 0 && dlm) {
 		if (dlm->master_hash)
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/dlmglue.c b/fs/ocfs2/dlmglue.c
index 14207234fa3d..ad594fef2ab0 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/dlmglue.c
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/dlmglue.c
@@ -3012,8 +3012,6 @@ struct ocfs2_dlm_debug *ocfs2_new_dlm_debug(void)
 
 	kref_init(&dlm_debug->d_refcnt);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&dlm_debug->d_lockres_tracking);
-	dlm_debug->d_locking_state = NULL;
-	dlm_debug->d_locking_filter = NULL;
 	dlm_debug->d_filter_secs = 0;
 out:
 	return dlm_debug;
@@ -3282,27 +3280,19 @@ static void ocfs2_dlm_init_debug(struct ocfs2_super *osb)
 {
 	struct ocfs2_dlm_debug *dlm_debug = osb->osb_dlm_debug;
 
-	dlm_debug->d_locking_state = debugfs_create_file("locking_state",
-							 S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
-							 osb->osb_debug_root,
-							 osb,
-							 &ocfs2_dlm_debug_fops);
+	debugfs_create_file("locking_state", S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
+			    osb->osb_debug_root, osb, &ocfs2_dlm_debug_fops);
 
-	dlm_debug->d_locking_filter = debugfs_create_u32("locking_filter",
-						0600,
-						osb->osb_debug_root,
-						&dlm_debug->d_filter_secs);
+	debugfs_create_u32("locking_filter", 0600, osb->osb_debug_root,
+			   &dlm_debug->d_filter_secs);
 }
 
 static void ocfs2_dlm_shutdown_debug(struct ocfs2_super *osb)
 {
 	struct ocfs2_dlm_debug *dlm_debug = osb->osb_dlm_debug;
 
-	if (dlm_debug) {
-		debugfs_remove(dlm_debug->d_locking_state);
-		debugfs_remove(dlm_debug->d_locking_filter);
+	if (dlm_debug)
 		ocfs2_put_dlm_debug(dlm_debug);
-	}
 }
 
 int ocfs2_dlm_init(struct ocfs2_super *osb)
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/ocfs2.h b/fs/ocfs2/ocfs2.h
index fddbbd60f434..9150cfa4df7d 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/ocfs2.h
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/ocfs2.h
@@ -223,8 +223,6 @@ struct ocfs2_orphan_scan {
 
 struct ocfs2_dlm_debug {
 	struct kref d_refcnt;
-	struct dentry *d_locking_state;
-	struct dentry *d_locking_filter;
 	u32 d_filter_secs;
 	struct list_head d_lockres_tracking;
 };
@@ -401,7 +399,6 @@ struct ocfs2_super
 	struct ocfs2_dlm_debug *osb_dlm_debug;
 
 	struct dentry *osb_debug_root;
-	struct dentry *osb_ctxt;
 
 	wait_queue_head_t recovery_event;
 
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/super.c b/fs/ocfs2/super.c
index 8b2f39506648..c81e86c62380 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/super.c
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/super.c
@@ -1080,10 +1080,8 @@ static int ocfs2_fill_super(struct super_block *sb, void *data, int silent)
 	osb->osb_debug_root = debugfs_create_dir(osb->uuid_str,
 						 ocfs2_debugfs_root);
 
-	osb->osb_ctxt = debugfs_create_file("fs_state", S_IFREG|S_IRUSR,
-					    osb->osb_debug_root,
-					    osb,
-					    &ocfs2_osb_debug_fops);
+	debugfs_create_file("fs_state", S_IFREG|S_IRUSR, osb->osb_debug_root,
+			    osb, &ocfs2_osb_debug_fops);
 
 	if (ocfs2_meta_ecc(osb))
 		ocfs2_blockcheck_stats_debugfs_install( &osb->osb_ecc_stats,
@@ -1861,8 +1859,6 @@ static void ocfs2_dismount_volume(struct super_block *sb, int mnt_err)
 
 	kset_unregister(osb->osb_dev_kset);
 
-	debugfs_remove(osb->osb_ctxt);
-
 	/* Orphan scan should be stopped as early as possible */
 	ocfs2_orphan_scan_stop(osb);
 
@@ -1918,7 +1914,7 @@ static void ocfs2_dismount_volume(struct super_block *sb, int mnt_err)
 		ocfs2_dlm_shutdown(osb, hangup_needed);
 
 	ocfs2_blockcheck_stats_debugfs_remove(&osb->osb_ecc_stats);
-	debugfs_remove(osb->osb_debug_root);
+	debugfs_remove_recursive(osb->osb_debug_root);
 
 	if (hangup_needed)
 		ocfs2_cluster_hangup(osb->uuid_str, strlen(osb->uuid_str));