diff --git a/drivers/block/rbd.c b/drivers/block/rbd.c
index 1e0a6b19ae0d..ff2377e6d12c 100644
--- a/drivers/block/rbd.c
+++ b/drivers/block/rbd.c
@@ -4527,6 +4527,10 @@ static void cancel_tasks_sync(struct rbd_device *rbd_dev)
 	cancel_work_sync(&rbd_dev->unlock_work);
 }
 
+/*
+ * header_rwsem must not be held to avoid a deadlock with
+ * rbd_dev_refresh() when flushing notifies.
+ */
 static void rbd_unregister_watch(struct rbd_device *rbd_dev)
 {
 	cancel_tasks_sync(rbd_dev);
@@ -6907,6 +6911,9 @@ static void rbd_dev_image_release(struct rbd_device *rbd_dev)
  * device.  If this image is the one being mapped (i.e., not a
  * parent), initiate a watch on its header object before using that
  * object to get detailed information about the rbd image.
+ *
+ * On success, returns with header_rwsem held for write if called
+ * with @depth == 0.
  */
 static int rbd_dev_image_probe(struct rbd_device *rbd_dev, int depth)
 {
@@ -6936,6 +6943,9 @@ static int rbd_dev_image_probe(struct rbd_device *rbd_dev, int depth)
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (!depth)
+		down_write(&rbd_dev->header_rwsem);
+
 	ret = rbd_dev_header_info(rbd_dev);
 	if (ret) {
 		if (ret == -ENOENT && !need_watch)
@@ -6987,6 +6997,8 @@ static int rbd_dev_image_probe(struct rbd_device *rbd_dev, int depth)
 err_out_probe:
 	rbd_dev_unprobe(rbd_dev);
 err_out_watch:
+	if (!depth)
+		up_write(&rbd_dev->header_rwsem);
 	if (need_watch)
 		rbd_unregister_watch(rbd_dev);
 err_out_format:
@@ -7050,12 +7062,9 @@ static ssize_t do_rbd_add(struct bus_type *bus,
 		goto err_out_rbd_dev;
 	}
 
-	down_write(&rbd_dev->header_rwsem);
 	rc = rbd_dev_image_probe(rbd_dev, 0);
-	if (rc < 0) {
-		up_write(&rbd_dev->header_rwsem);
+	if (rc < 0)
 		goto err_out_rbd_dev;
-	}
 
 	if (rbd_dev->opts->alloc_size > rbd_dev->layout.object_size) {
 		rbd_warn(rbd_dev, "alloc_size adjusted to %u",