diff --git a/fs/jbd/journal.c b/fs/jbd/journal.c
index b3713afaaa9e..e2d4285fbe90 100644
--- a/fs/jbd/journal.c
+++ b/fs/jbd/journal.c
@@ -437,9 +437,12 @@ int __log_space_left(journal_t *journal)
 int __log_start_commit(journal_t *journal, tid_t target)
 {
 	/*
-	 * Are we already doing a recent enough commit?
+	 * The only transaction we can possibly wait upon is the
+	 * currently running transaction (if it exists).  Otherwise,
+	 * the target tid must be an old one.
 	 */
-	if (!tid_geq(journal->j_commit_request, target)) {
+	if (journal->j_running_transaction &&
+	    journal->j_running_transaction->t_tid == target) {
 		/*
 		 * We want a new commit: OK, mark the request and wakeup the
 		 * commit thread.  We do _not_ do the commit ourselves.
@@ -451,7 +454,14 @@ int __log_start_commit(journal_t *journal, tid_t target)
 			  journal->j_commit_sequence);
 		wake_up(&journal->j_wait_commit);
 		return 1;
-	}
+	} else if (!tid_geq(journal->j_commit_request, target))
+		/* This should never happen, but if it does, preserve
+		   the evidence before kjournald goes into a loop and
+		   increments j_commit_sequence beyond all recognition. */
+		WARN_ONCE(1, "jbd: bad log_start_commit: %u %u %u %u\n",
+		    journal->j_commit_request, journal->j_commit_sequence,
+		    target, journal->j_running_transaction ?
+		    journal->j_running_transaction->t_tid : 0);
 	return 0;
 }