diff --git a/fs/nfs/nfs4state.c b/fs/nfs/nfs4state.c
index 95baf7d340f0..cf869802ff23 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/nfs4state.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/nfs4state.c
@@ -797,21 +797,33 @@ void nfs4_close_sync(struct nfs4_state *state, fmode_t fmode)
 
 /*
  * Search the state->lock_states for an existing lock_owner
- * that is compatible with current->files
+ * that is compatible with either of the given owners.
+ * If the second is non-zero, then the first refers to a Posix-lock
+ * owner (current->files) and the second refers to a flock/OFD
+ * owner (struct file*).  In that case, prefer a match for the first
+ * owner.
+ * If both sorts of locks are held on the one file we cannot know
+ * which stateid was intended to be used, so a "correct" choice cannot
+ * be made.  Failing that, a "consistent" choice is preferable.  The
+ * consistent choice we make is to prefer the first owner, that of a
+ * Posix lock.
  */
 static struct nfs4_lock_state *
 __nfs4_find_lock_state(struct nfs4_state *state,
 		       fl_owner_t fl_owner, fl_owner_t fl_owner2)
 {
-	struct nfs4_lock_state *pos;
+	struct nfs4_lock_state *pos, *ret = NULL;
 	list_for_each_entry(pos, &state->lock_states, ls_locks) {
-		if (pos->ls_owner != fl_owner &&
-		    pos->ls_owner != fl_owner2)
-			continue;
-		atomic_inc(&pos->ls_count);
-		return pos;
+		if (pos->ls_owner == fl_owner) {
+			ret = pos;
+			break;
+		}
+		if (pos->ls_owner == fl_owner2)
+			ret = pos;
 	}
-	return NULL;
+	if (ret)
+		atomic_inc(&ret->ls_count);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /*