diff --git a/fs/btrfs/ioctl.c b/fs/btrfs/ioctl.c
index 3fdfabcc1aaa..898c5729e7e5 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/ioctl.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/ioctl.c
@@ -2245,13 +2245,6 @@ static int btrfs_ioctl_defrag(struct file *file, void __user *argp)
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	if (atomic_xchg(&root->fs_info->mutually_exclusive_operation_running,
-			1)) {
-		pr_info("btrfs: dev add/delete/balance/replace/resize operation in progress\n");
-		mnt_drop_write_file(file);
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
 	if (btrfs_root_readonly(root)) {
 		ret = -EROFS;
 		goto out;
@@ -2306,7 +2299,6 @@ static int btrfs_ioctl_defrag(struct file *file, void __user *argp)
 		ret = -EINVAL;
 	}
 out:
-	atomic_set(&root->fs_info->mutually_exclusive_operation_running, 0);
 	mnt_drop_write_file(file);
 	return ret;
 }