diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
index 9cc3b786d56c..c07c9885f580 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
@@ -170,6 +170,13 @@ alloc_init_deleg(struct nfs4_client *clp, struct nfs4_stateid *stp, struct svc_f
 	struct nfs4_cb_conn *cb = &stp->st_stateowner->so_client->cl_cb_conn;
 
 	dprintk("NFSD alloc_init_deleg\n");
+	/*
+	 * Major work on the lease subsystem (for example, to support
+	 * calbacks on stat) will be required before we can support
+	 * write delegations properly.
+	 */
+	if (type != NFS4_OPEN_DELEGATE_READ)
+		return NULL;
 	if (fp->fi_had_conflict)
 		return NULL;
 	if (num_delegations > max_delegations)