diff --git a/fs/block_dev.c b/fs/block_dev.c
index 4fb8a3431531..94d41db62004 100644
--- a/fs/block_dev.c
+++ b/fs/block_dev.c
@@ -873,6 +873,11 @@ int bd_link_disk_holder(struct block_device *bdev, struct gendisk *disk)
 	ret = add_symlink(bdev->bd_part->holder_dir, &disk_to_dev(disk)->kobj);
 	if (ret)
 		goto out_del;
+	/*
+	 * bdev could be deleted beneath us which would implicitly destroy
+	 * the holder directory.  Hold on to it.
+	 */
+	kobject_get(bdev->bd_part->holder_dir);
 
 	list_add(&holder->list, &bdev->bd_holder_disks);
 	goto out_unlock;
@@ -909,6 +914,7 @@ void bd_unlink_disk_holder(struct block_device *bdev, struct gendisk *disk)
 		del_symlink(disk->slave_dir, &part_to_dev(bdev->bd_part)->kobj);
 		del_symlink(bdev->bd_part->holder_dir,
 			    &disk_to_dev(disk)->kobj);
+		kobject_put(bdev->bd_part->holder_dir);
 		list_del_init(&holder->list);
 		kfree(holder);
 	}