diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/osf_sys.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/osf_sys.c
index f2bef5e14faa..8c71daf94a59 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/osf_sys.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/osf_sys.c
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ osf_statfs(char __user *path, struct osf_statfs __user *buffer, unsigned long bu
 	retval = user_path_walk(path, &nd);
 	if (!retval) {
 		retval = do_osf_statfs(nd.path.dentry, buffer, bufsiz);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return retval;
 }
diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/sysirix.c b/arch/mips/kernel/sysirix.c
index 49d6292ffa05..672fba84b2cc 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/sysirix.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/sysirix.c
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ asmlinkage int irix_statfs(const char __user *path,
 	}
 
 dput_and_out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -1385,7 +1385,7 @@ asmlinkage int irix_statvfs(char __user *fname, struct irix_statvfs __user *buf)
 		error |= __put_user(0, &buf->f_fstr[i]);
 
 dput_and_out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -1636,7 +1636,7 @@ asmlinkage int irix_statvfs64(char __user *fname, struct irix_statvfs64 __user *
 		error |= __put_user(0, &buf->f_fstr[i]);
 
 dput_and_out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/arch/parisc/hpux/sys_hpux.c b/arch/parisc/hpux/sys_hpux.c
index d7395af3e846..0c5b9dabb475 100644
--- a/arch/parisc/hpux/sys_hpux.c
+++ b/arch/parisc/hpux/sys_hpux.c
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ asmlinkage long hpux_statfs(const char __user *path,
 		error = vfs_statfs_hpux(nd.path.dentry, &tmp);
 		if (!error && copy_to_user(buf, &tmp, sizeof(tmp)))
 			error = -EFAULT;
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/cell/spufs/syscalls.c b/arch/powerpc/platforms/cell/spufs/syscalls.c
index 430404413178..49c87769b1f8 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/cell/spufs/syscalls.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/cell/spufs/syscalls.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ static long do_spu_create(const char __user *pathname, unsigned int flags,
 				LOOKUP_OPEN|LOOKUP_CREATE, &nd);
 		if (!ret) {
 			ret = spufs_create(&nd, flags, mode, neighbor);
-			path_release(&nd);
+			path_put(&nd.path);
 		}
 		putname(tmp);
 	}
diff --git a/arch/sparc64/solaris/fs.c b/arch/sparc64/solaris/fs.c
index 516932e9f70b..7d035f0d3ae1 100644
--- a/arch/sparc64/solaris/fs.c
+++ b/arch/sparc64/solaris/fs.c
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ asmlinkage int solaris_statvfs(u32 path, u32 buf)
 	if (!error) {
 		struct inode *inode = nd.path.dentry->d_inode;
 		error = report_statvfs(nd.path.mnt, inode, buf);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return error;
 }
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ asmlinkage int solaris_statvfs64(u32 path, u32 buf)
 	if (!error) {
 		struct inode *inode = nd.path.dentry->d_inode;
 		error = report_statvfs64(nd.path.mnt, inode, buf);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	unlock_kernel();
 	return error;
diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-table.c b/drivers/md/dm-table.c
index b611a3c61504..e75b1437b58b 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-table.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-table.c
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ static int lookup_device(const char *path, dev_t *dev)
 	*dev = inode->i_rdev;
 
  out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return r;
 }
 
diff --git a/drivers/mtd/mtdsuper.c b/drivers/mtd/mtdsuper.c
index e376f4517905..28cc6787a800 100644
--- a/drivers/mtd/mtdsuper.c
+++ b/drivers/mtd/mtdsuper.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ int get_sb_mtd(struct file_system_type *fs_type, int flags,
 		goto not_an_MTD_device;
 
 	mtdnr = iminor(nd.path.dentry->d_inode);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 
 	return get_sb_mtd_nr(fs_type, flags, dev_name, data, mtdnr, fill_super,
 			     mnt);
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ int get_sb_mtd(struct file_system_type *fs_type, int flags,
 		       "MTD: Attempt to mount non-MTD device \"%s\"\n",
 		       dev_name);
 out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return ret;
 
 }
diff --git a/fs/afs/mntpt.c b/fs/afs/mntpt.c
index 4136dfb9ffb8..e13cea220669 100644
--- a/fs/afs/mntpt.c
+++ b/fs/afs/mntpt.c
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static void *afs_mntpt_follow_link(struct dentry *dentry, struct nameidata *nd)
 
 	newmnt = afs_mntpt_do_automount(nd->path.dentry);
 	if (IS_ERR(newmnt)) {
-		path_release(nd);
+		path_put(&nd->path);
 		return (void *)newmnt;
 	}
 
diff --git a/fs/autofs4/root.c b/fs/autofs4/root.c
index a119c863ff37..a54a946a50ae 100644
--- a/fs/autofs4/root.c
+++ b/fs/autofs4/root.c
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ static void *autofs4_follow_link(struct dentry *dentry, struct nameidata *nd)
 	return NULL;
 
 out_error:
-	path_release(nd);
+	path_put(&nd->path);
 	return ERR_PTR(status);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/block_dev.c b/fs/block_dev.c
index 5f4721fdbdb6..67fe72ce6ac7 100644
--- a/fs/block_dev.c
+++ b/fs/block_dev.c
@@ -1409,7 +1409,7 @@ struct block_device *lookup_bdev(const char *path)
 	if (!bdev)
 		goto fail;
 out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return bdev;
 fail:
 	bdev = ERR_PTR(error);
diff --git a/fs/cifs/cifs_dfs_ref.c b/fs/cifs/cifs_dfs_ref.c
index bcd53c2fe781..6ad447529961 100644
--- a/fs/cifs/cifs_dfs_ref.c
+++ b/fs/cifs/cifs_dfs_ref.c
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ cifs_dfs_follow_mountpoint(struct dentry *dentry, struct nameidata *nd)
 	cFYI(1, ("leaving %s" , __FUNCTION__));
 	return ERR_PTR(rc);
 out_err:
-	path_release(nd);
+	path_put(&nd->path);
 	goto out;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/coda/pioctl.c b/fs/coda/pioctl.c
index 3b6a1b721b46..c21a1f552a63 100644
--- a/fs/coda/pioctl.c
+++ b/fs/coda/pioctl.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ static int coda_pioctl(struct inode * inode, struct file * filp,
 	
 	/* return if it is not a Coda inode */
 	if ( target_inode->i_sb != inode->i_sb ) {
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	        return  -EINVAL;
 	}
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ static int coda_pioctl(struct inode * inode, struct file * filp,
 
 	error = venus_pioctl(inode->i_sb, &(cnp->c_fid), cmd, &data);
 
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
         return error;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/compat.c b/fs/compat.c
index a8d62375ada1..43ca0165740c 100644
--- a/fs/compat.c
+++ b/fs/compat.c
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ asmlinkage long compat_sys_statfs(const char __user *path, struct compat_statfs
 		error = vfs_statfs(nd.path.dentry, &tmp);
 		if (!error)
 			error = put_compat_statfs(buf, &tmp);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return error;
 }
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ asmlinkage long compat_sys_statfs64(const char __user *path, compat_size_t sz, s
 		error = vfs_statfs(nd.path.dentry, &tmp);
 		if (!error)
 			error = put_compat_statfs64(buf, &tmp);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/fs/configfs/symlink.c b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
index cda3ea001ae6..78929ea84ff2 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/symlink.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/symlink.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ static int get_target(const char *symname, struct nameidata *nd,
 			*target = configfs_get_config_item(nd->path.dentry);
 			if (!*target) {
 				ret = -ENOENT;
-				path_release(nd);
+				path_put(&nd->path);
 			}
 		} else
 			ret = -EPERM;
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ int configfs_symlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry, const char *symna
 		ret = create_link(parent_item, target_item, dentry);
 
 	config_item_put(target_item);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 
 out_put:
 	config_item_put(parent_item);
diff --git a/fs/dquot.c b/fs/dquot.c
index 289f48d2c727..9c7feb62eed1 100644
--- a/fs/dquot.c
+++ b/fs/dquot.c
@@ -1643,7 +1643,7 @@ int vfs_quota_on(struct super_block *sb, int type, int format_id, char *path)
 		error = vfs_quota_on_inode(nd.path.dentry->d_inode, type,
 					   format_id);
 out_path:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return error;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/main.c b/fs/ecryptfs/main.c
index a70555a6472c..d25ac9500a92 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/main.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/main.c
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ static int ecryptfs_read_super(struct super_block *sb, const char *dev_name)
 	rc = 0;
 	goto out;
 out_free:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return rc;
 }
diff --git a/fs/exec.c b/fs/exec.c
index 7a12d2d1ac11..a44b142fb460 100644
--- a/fs/exec.c
+++ b/fs/exec.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_uselib(const char __user * library)
   	return error;
 exit:
 	release_open_intent(&nd);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	goto out;
 }
 
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ struct file *open_exec(const char *name)
 			}
 		}
 		release_open_intent(&nd);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	goto out;
 }
diff --git a/fs/ext3/super.c b/fs/ext3/super.c
index 0b5057e0dc1e..18769cc32377 100644
--- a/fs/ext3/super.c
+++ b/fs/ext3/super.c
@@ -2759,7 +2759,7 @@ static int ext3_quota_on(struct super_block *sb, int type, int format_id,
 		return err;
 	/* Quotafile not on the same filesystem? */
 	if (nd.path.mnt->mnt_sb != sb) {
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 		return -EXDEV;
 	}
 	/* Quotafile not of fs root? */
@@ -2767,7 +2767,7 @@ static int ext3_quota_on(struct super_block *sb, int type, int format_id,
 		printk(KERN_WARNING
 			"EXT3-fs: Quota file not on filesystem root. "
 			"Journalled quota will not work.\n");
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return vfs_quota_on(sb, type, format_id, path);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/ext4/super.c b/fs/ext4/super.c
index 37117990073d..13383ba18f1d 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/super.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/super.c
@@ -3159,7 +3159,7 @@ static int ext4_quota_on(struct super_block *sb, int type, int format_id,
 		return err;
 	/* Quotafile not on the same filesystem? */
 	if (nd.path.mnt->mnt_sb != sb) {
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 		return -EXDEV;
 	}
 	/* Quotafile not of fs root? */
@@ -3167,7 +3167,7 @@ static int ext4_quota_on(struct super_block *sb, int type, int format_id,
 		printk(KERN_WARNING
 			"EXT4-fs: Quota file not on filesystem root. "
 			"Journalled quota will not work.\n");
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return vfs_quota_on(sb, type, format_id, path);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/gfs2/ops_fstype.c b/fs/gfs2/ops_fstype.c
index f4ced7fcda82..4bee6aa845e4 100644
--- a/fs/gfs2/ops_fstype.c
+++ b/fs/gfs2/ops_fstype.c
@@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ static struct super_block* get_gfs2_sb(const char *dev_name)
 	       "mount point %s\n", dev_name);
 
 free_nd:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return sb;
 }
diff --git a/fs/inotify_user.c b/fs/inotify_user.c
index e9c58652533a..7b94a1e3c015 100644
--- a/fs/inotify_user.c
+++ b/fs/inotify_user.c
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ static int find_inode(const char __user *dirname, struct nameidata *nd,
 	/* you can only watch an inode if you have read permissions on it */
 	error = vfs_permission(nd, MAY_READ);
 	if (error)
-		path_release(nd);
+		path_put(&nd->path);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_inotify_add_watch(int fd, const char __user *path, u32 mask)
 		ret = create_watch(dev, inode, mask);
 	mutex_unlock(&dev->up_mutex);
 
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 fput_and_out:
 	fput_light(filp, fput_needed);
 	return ret;
diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index c9b05a71c39c..b0df7ea733d7 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -362,11 +362,18 @@ int deny_write_access(struct file * file)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void path_release(struct nameidata *nd)
+/**
+ * path_put - put a reference to a path
+ * @path: path to put the reference to
+ *
+ * Given a path decrement the reference count to the dentry and the vfsmount.
+ */
+void path_put(struct path *path)
 {
-	dput(nd->path.dentry);
-	mntput(nd->path.mnt);
+	dput(path->dentry);
+	mntput(path->mnt);
 }
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(path_put);
 
 /**
  * release_open_intent - free up open intent resources
@@ -551,7 +558,7 @@ static __always_inline int __vfs_follow_link(struct nameidata *nd, const char *l
 		goto fail;
 
 	if (*link == '/') {
-		path_release(nd);
+		path_put(&nd->path);
 		if (!walk_init_root(link, nd))
 			/* weird __emul_prefix() stuff did it */
 			goto out;
@@ -567,18 +574,18 @@ static __always_inline int __vfs_follow_link(struct nameidata *nd, const char *l
 	 */
 	name = __getname();
 	if (unlikely(!name)) {
-		path_release(nd);
+		path_put(&nd->path);
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 	strcpy(name, nd->last.name);
 	nd->last.name = name;
 	return 0;
 fail:
-	path_release(nd);
+	path_put(&nd->path);
 	return PTR_ERR(link);
 }
 
-static inline void dput_path(struct path *path, struct nameidata *nd)
+static void path_put_conditional(struct path *path, struct nameidata *nd)
 {
 	dput(path->dentry);
 	if (path->mnt != nd->path.mnt)
@@ -651,8 +658,8 @@ static inline int do_follow_link(struct path *path, struct nameidata *nd)
 	nd->depth--;
 	return err;
 loop:
-	dput_path(path, nd);
-	path_release(nd);
+	path_put_conditional(path, nd);
+	path_put(&nd->path);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -993,10 +1000,10 @@ static int __link_path_walk(const char *name, struct nameidata *nd)
 return_base:
 		return 0;
 out_dput:
-		dput_path(&next, nd);
+		path_put_conditional(&next, nd);
 		break;
 	}
-	path_release(nd);
+	path_put(&nd->path);
 return_err:
 	return err;
 }
@@ -1070,7 +1077,7 @@ static int __emul_lookup_dentry(const char *name, struct nameidata *nd)
 				mntput(old_mnt);
 				return 1;
 			}
-			path_release(nd);
+			path_put(&nd->path);
 		}
 		nd->path.dentry = old_dentry;
 		nd->path.mnt = old_mnt;
@@ -1230,7 +1237,7 @@ static int __path_lookup_intent_open(int dfd, const char *name,
 	if (IS_ERR(nd->intent.open.file)) {
 		if (err == 0) {
 			err = PTR_ERR(nd->intent.open.file);
-			path_release(nd);
+			path_put(&nd->path);
 		}
 	} else if (err != 0)
 		release_open_intent(nd);
@@ -1806,11 +1813,11 @@ int open_namei(int dfd, const char *pathname, int flag,
 	return 0;
 
 exit_dput:
-	dput_path(&path, nd);
+	path_put_conditional(&path, nd);
 exit:
 	if (!IS_ERR(nd->intent.open.file))
 		release_open_intent(nd);
-	path_release(nd);
+	path_put(&nd->path);
 	return error;
 
 do_link:
@@ -1979,7 +1986,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_mknodat(int dfd, const char __user *filename, int mode,
 		dput(dentry);
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&nd.path.dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	putname(tmp);
 
@@ -2039,7 +2046,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_mkdirat(int dfd, const char __user *pathname, int mode)
 	dput(dentry);
 out_unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&nd.path.dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	putname(tmp);
 out_err:
@@ -2147,7 +2154,7 @@ static long do_rmdir(int dfd, const char __user *pathname)
 exit2:
 	mutex_unlock(&nd.path.dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
 exit1:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 exit:
 	putname(name);
 	return error;
@@ -2231,7 +2238,7 @@ static long do_unlinkat(int dfd, const char __user *pathname)
 	if (inode)
 		iput(inode);	/* truncate the inode here */
 exit1:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 exit:
 	putname(name);
 	return error;
@@ -2308,7 +2315,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_symlinkat(const char __user *oldname,
 	dput(dentry);
 out_unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&nd.path.dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	putname(to);
 out_putname:
@@ -2404,9 +2411,9 @@ asmlinkage long sys_linkat(int olddfd, const char __user *oldname,
 out_unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&nd.path.dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
 out_release:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
-	path_release(&old_nd);
+	path_put(&old_nd.path);
 exit:
 	putname(to);
 
@@ -2634,9 +2641,9 @@ static int do_rename(int olddfd, const char *oldname,
 exit3:
 	unlock_rename(new_dir, old_dir);
 exit2:
-	path_release(&newnd);
+	path_put(&newnd.path);
 exit1:
-	path_release(&oldnd);
+	path_put(&oldnd.path);
 exit:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -2810,7 +2817,6 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(page_symlink);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(page_symlink_inode_operations);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(path_lookup);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(vfs_path_lookup);
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(path_release);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(permission);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(vfs_permission);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(file_permission);
diff --git a/fs/namespace.c b/fs/namespace.c
index 5d9fd4c6d1f5..c77eedd2ac66 100644
--- a/fs/namespace.c
+++ b/fs/namespace.c
@@ -1007,7 +1007,7 @@ static noinline int do_loopback(struct nameidata *nd, char *old_name,
 
 out:
 	up_write(&namespace_sem);
-	path_release(&old_nd);
+	path_put(&old_nd.path);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -1126,8 +1126,8 @@ static noinline int do_move_mount(struct nameidata *nd, char *old_name)
 out:
 	up_write(&namespace_sem);
 	if (!err)
-		path_release(&parent_nd);
-	path_release(&old_nd);
+		path_put(&parent_nd.path);
+	path_put(&old_nd.path);
 	return err;
 }
 
@@ -1512,7 +1512,7 @@ long do_mount(char *dev_name, char *dir_name, char *type_page,
 		retval = do_new_mount(&nd, type_page, flags, mnt_flags,
 				      dev_name, data_page);
 dput_out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return retval;
 }
 
@@ -1768,7 +1768,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_pivot_root(const char __user * new_root,
 
 	error = security_sb_pivotroot(&old_nd, &new_nd);
 	if (error) {
-		path_release(&old_nd);
+		path_put(&old_nd.path);
 		goto out1;
 	}
 
@@ -1831,15 +1831,15 @@ asmlinkage long sys_pivot_root(const char __user * new_root,
 	chroot_fs_refs(&user_nd, &new_nd);
 	security_sb_post_pivotroot(&user_nd, &new_nd);
 	error = 0;
-	path_release(&root_parent);
-	path_release(&parent_nd);
+	path_put(&root_parent.path);
+	path_put(&parent_nd.path);
 out2:
 	mutex_unlock(&old_nd.path.dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
 	up_write(&namespace_sem);
-	path_release(&user_nd);
-	path_release(&old_nd);
+	path_put(&user_nd.path);
+	path_put(&old_nd.path);
 out1:
-	path_release(&new_nd);
+	path_put(&new_nd.path);
 out0:
 	unlock_kernel();
 	return error;
diff --git a/fs/nfs/namespace.c b/fs/nfs/namespace.c
index 3b6d83dc98a7..607f6eb9cdb5 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/namespace.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/namespace.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ static void * nfs_follow_mountpoint(struct dentry *dentry, struct nameidata *nd)
 	dprintk("<-- nfs_follow_mountpoint() = %d\n", err);
 	return ERR_PTR(err);
 out_err:
-	path_release(nd);
+	path_put(&nd->path);
 	goto out;
 out_follow:
 	while (d_mountpoint(nd->path.dentry) &&
diff --git a/fs/nfsctl.c b/fs/nfsctl.c
index 49ef0b4d4439..aed8145d9087 100644
--- a/fs/nfsctl.c
+++ b/fs/nfsctl.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ static struct file *do_open(char *name, int flags)
 	if (!error)
 		return dentry_open(nd.path.dentry, nd.path.mnt, flags);
 
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return ERR_PTR(error);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/export.c b/fs/nfsd/export.c
index 2ac0e30285c2..717413f07e9a 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/export.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/export.c
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ static int expkey_parse(struct cache_detail *cd, char *mesg, int mlen)
 			cache_put(&ek->h, &svc_expkey_cache);
 		else
 			err = -ENOMEM;
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	cache_flush();
  out:
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ static int svc_export_parse(struct cache_detail *cd, char *mesg, int mlen)
 	kfree(exp.ex_uuid);
  	kfree(exp.ex_path);
 	if (nd.path.dentry)
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
  out_no_path:
 	if (dom)
 		auth_domain_put(dom);
@@ -1098,7 +1098,7 @@ exp_export(struct nfsctl_export *nxp)
 		cache_put(&fsid_key->h, &svc_expkey_cache);
 	if (clp)
 		auth_domain_put(clp);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out_unlock:
 	exp_writeunlock();
 out:
@@ -1150,7 +1150,7 @@ exp_unexport(struct nfsctl_export *nxp)
 
 	err = -EINVAL;
 	exp = exp_get_by_name(dom, nd.path.mnt, nd.path.dentry, NULL);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	if (IS_ERR(exp))
 		goto out_domain;
 
@@ -1209,7 +1209,7 @@ exp_rootfh(svc_client *clp, char *path, struct knfsd_fh *f, int maxsize)
 	fh_put(&fh);
 	exp_put(exp);
 out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4recover.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4recover.c
index a7a8fdf86ea7..1ff90625860f 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4recover.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4recover.c
@@ -415,5 +415,5 @@ nfsd4_shutdown_recdir(void)
 	if (!rec_dir_init)
 		return;
 	rec_dir_init = 0;
-	path_release(&rec_dir);
+	path_put(&rec_dir.path);
 }
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
index be2b9ecd230a..bcb97d8e8b8b 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4state.c
@@ -3265,7 +3265,7 @@ nfs4_reset_recoverydir(char *recdir)
 		nfs4_set_recdir(recdir);
 		status = 0;
 	}
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return status;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/open.c b/fs/open.c
index 279aacf25600..ca8ac4bbd3bd 100644
--- a/fs/open.c
+++ b/fs/open.c
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_statfs(const char __user * path, struct statfs __user * buf)
 		error = vfs_statfs_native(nd.path.dentry, &tmp);
 		if (!error && copy_to_user(buf, &tmp, sizeof(tmp)))
 			error = -EFAULT;
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return error;
 }
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_statfs64(const char __user *path, size_t sz, struct statfs64
 		error = vfs_statfs64(nd.path.dentry, &tmp);
 		if (!error && copy_to_user(buf, &tmp, sizeof(tmp)))
 			error = -EFAULT;
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return error;
 }
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ static long do_sys_truncate(const char __user * path, loff_t length)
 put_write_and_out:
 	put_write_access(inode);
 dput_and_out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_faccessat(int dfd, const char __user *filename, int mode)
 		res = -EROFS;
 
 out_path_release:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	current->fsuid = old_fsuid;
 	current->fsgid = old_fsgid;
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_chdir(const char __user * filename)
 	set_fs_pwd(current->fs, nd.path.mnt, nd.path.dentry);
 
 dput_and_out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_chroot(const char __user * filename)
 	set_fs_altroot();
 	error = 0;
 dput_and_out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_fchmodat(int dfd, const char __user *filename,
 	mutex_unlock(&inode->i_mutex);
 
 dput_and_out:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_chown(const char __user * filename, uid_t user, gid_t group)
 	if (error)
 		goto out;
 	error = chown_common(nd.path.dentry, user, group);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_fchownat(int dfd, const char __user *filename, uid_t user,
 	if (error)
 		goto out;
 	error = chown_common(nd.path.dentry, user, group);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_lchown(const char __user * filename, uid_t user, gid_t group
 	if (error)
 		goto out;
 	error = chown_common(nd.path.dentry, user, group);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
@@ -894,7 +894,7 @@ struct file *nameidata_to_filp(struct nameidata *nd, int flags)
 		filp = __dentry_open(nd->path.dentry, nd->path.mnt, flags, filp,
 				     NULL);
 	else
-		path_release(nd);
+		path_put(&nd->path);
 	return filp;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/proc/base.c b/fs/proc/base.c
index 0ef52230f8c7..c742be48348f 100644
--- a/fs/proc/base.c
+++ b/fs/proc/base.c
@@ -1164,7 +1164,7 @@ static void *proc_pid_follow_link(struct dentry *dentry, struct nameidata *nd)
 	int error = -EACCES;
 
 	/* We don't need a base pointer in the /proc filesystem */
-	path_release(nd);
+	path_put(&nd->path);
 
 	/* Are we allowed to snoop on the tasks file descriptors? */
 	if (!proc_fd_access_allowed(inode))
diff --git a/fs/reiserfs/super.c b/fs/reiserfs/super.c
index 2d1d6ac0c3f7..6841452e0dea 100644
--- a/fs/reiserfs/super.c
+++ b/fs/reiserfs/super.c
@@ -2027,20 +2027,20 @@ static int reiserfs_quota_on(struct super_block *sb, int type, int format_id,
 		return err;
 	/* Quotafile not on the same filesystem? */
 	if (nd.path.mnt->mnt_sb != sb) {
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 		return -EXDEV;
 	}
 	/* We must not pack tails for quota files on reiserfs for quota IO to work */
 	if (!REISERFS_I(nd.path.dentry->d_inode)->i_flags & i_nopack_mask) {
 		reiserfs_warning(sb,
 				 "reiserfs: Quota file must have tail packing disabled.");
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 	/* Not journalling quota? No more tests needed... */
 	if (!REISERFS_SB(sb)->s_qf_names[USRQUOTA] &&
 	    !REISERFS_SB(sb)->s_qf_names[GRPQUOTA]) {
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 		return vfs_quota_on(sb, type, format_id, path);
 	}
 	/* Quotafile not of fs root? */
@@ -2048,7 +2048,7 @@ static int reiserfs_quota_on(struct super_block *sb, int type, int format_id,
 		reiserfs_warning(sb,
 				 "reiserfs: Quota file not on filesystem root. "
 				 "Journalled quota will not work.");
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return vfs_quota_on(sb, type, format_id, path);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/stat.c b/fs/stat.c
index 82680f2c01d2..9cf41f719d50 100644
--- a/fs/stat.c
+++ b/fs/stat.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ int vfs_stat_fd(int dfd, char __user *name, struct kstat *stat)
 	error = __user_walk_fd(dfd, name, LOOKUP_FOLLOW, &nd);
 	if (!error) {
 		error = vfs_getattr(nd.path.mnt, nd.path.dentry, stat);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return error;
 }
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ int vfs_lstat_fd(int dfd, char __user *name, struct kstat *stat)
 	error = __user_walk_fd(dfd, name, 0, &nd);
 	if (!error) {
 		error = vfs_getattr(nd.path.mnt, nd.path.dentry, stat);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return error;
 }
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ asmlinkage long sys_readlinkat(int dfd, const char __user *path,
 							      buf, bufsiz);
 			}
 		}
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 	}
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/fs/utimes.c b/fs/utimes.c
index 679b08288a66..b18da9c0b97f 100644
--- a/fs/utimes.c
+++ b/fs/utimes.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ long do_utimes(int dfd, char __user *filename, struct timespec *times, int flags
 	if (f)
 		fput(f);
 	else
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 out:
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/fs/xattr.c b/fs/xattr.c
index be0ee756c5f1..3acab1615460 100644
--- a/fs/xattr.c
+++ b/fs/xattr.c
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ sys_setxattr(char __user *path, char __user *name, void __user *value,
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 	error = setxattr(nd.path.dentry, name, value, size, flags);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ sys_lsetxattr(char __user *path, char __user *name, void __user *value,
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 	error = setxattr(nd.path.dentry, name, value, size, flags);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ sys_getxattr(char __user *path, char __user *name, void __user *value,
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 	error = getxattr(nd.path.dentry, name, value, size);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ sys_lgetxattr(char __user *path, char __user *name, void __user *value,
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 	error = getxattr(nd.path.dentry, name, value, size);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ sys_listxattr(char __user *path, char __user *list, size_t size)
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 	error = listxattr(nd.path.dentry, list, size);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ sys_llistxattr(char __user *path, char __user *list, size_t size)
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 	error = listxattr(nd.path.dentry, list, size);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ sys_removexattr(char __user *path, char __user *name)
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 	error = removexattr(nd.path.dentry, name);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ sys_lremovexattr(char __user *path, char __user *name)
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 	error = removexattr(nd.path.dentry, name);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	return error;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/xfs/linux-2.6/xfs_ioctl.c b/fs/xfs/linux-2.6/xfs_ioctl.c
index f052a108bcc1..a9952e490ac9 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/linux-2.6/xfs_ioctl.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/linux-2.6/xfs_ioctl.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ xfs_find_handle(
 		ASSERT(nd.path.dentry);
 		ASSERT(nd.path.dentry->d_inode);
 		inode = igrab(nd.path.dentry->d_inode);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 		break;
 	}
 
diff --git a/include/linux/namei.h b/include/linux/namei.h
index 52fa2f78bb71..24d88e98a626 100644
--- a/include/linux/namei.h
+++ b/include/linux/namei.h
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ extern int __user_walk_fd(int dfd, const char __user *, unsigned, struct nameida
 extern int path_lookup(const char *, unsigned, struct nameidata *);
 extern int vfs_path_lookup(struct dentry *, struct vfsmount *,
 			   const char *, unsigned int, struct nameidata *);
-extern void path_release(struct nameidata *);
 
 extern int __user_path_lookup_open(const char __user *, unsigned lookup_flags, struct nameidata *nd, int open_flags);
 extern int path_lookup_open(int dfd, const char *name, unsigned lookup_flags, struct nameidata *, int open_flags);
diff --git a/include/linux/path.h b/include/linux/path.h
index cbebdc5c9a60..4d976f959f33 100644
--- a/include/linux/path.h
+++ b/include/linux/path.h
@@ -9,4 +9,6 @@ struct path {
 	struct dentry *dentry;
 };
 
+extern void path_put(struct path *);
+
 #endif  /* _LINUX_PATH_H */
diff --git a/kernel/audit_tree.c b/kernel/audit_tree.c
index b898814fe4a0..9ef5e0aacc3c 100644
--- a/kernel/audit_tree.c
+++ b/kernel/audit_tree.c
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ void audit_trim_trees(void)
 			goto skip_it;
 
 		root_mnt = collect_mounts(nd.path.mnt, nd.path.dentry);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 		if (!root_mnt)
 			goto skip_it;
 
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ int audit_add_tree_rule(struct audit_krule *rule)
 	if (err)
 		goto Err;
 	mnt = collect_mounts(nd.path.mnt, nd.path.dentry);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	if (!mnt) {
 		err = -ENOMEM;
 		goto Err;
@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@ int audit_tag_tree(char *old, char *new)
 	if (err)
 		return err;
 	tagged = collect_mounts(nd.path.mnt, nd.path.dentry);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 	if (!tagged)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ int audit_tag_tree(char *old, char *new)
 	}
 	mnt = mntget(nd.path.mnt);
 	dentry = dget(nd.path.dentry);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 
 	if (dentry == tagged->mnt_root && dentry == mnt->mnt_root)
 		follow_up(&mnt, &dentry);
@@ -744,13 +744,13 @@ int audit_tag_tree(char *old, char *new)
 		spin_lock(&vfsmount_lock);
 		if (!is_under(mnt, dentry, &nd)) {
 			spin_unlock(&vfsmount_lock);
-			path_release(&nd);
+			path_put(&nd.path);
 			put_tree(tree);
 			mutex_lock(&audit_filter_mutex);
 			continue;
 		}
 		spin_unlock(&vfsmount_lock);
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 
 		list_for_each_entry(p, &list, mnt_list) {
 			failed = tag_chunk(p->mnt_root->d_inode, tree);
diff --git a/kernel/auditfilter.c b/kernel/auditfilter.c
index a36e66797c3d..2f2914b7cc30 100644
--- a/kernel/auditfilter.c
+++ b/kernel/auditfilter.c
@@ -1161,11 +1161,11 @@ static int audit_get_nd(char *path, struct nameidata **ndp,
 static void audit_put_nd(struct nameidata *ndp, struct nameidata *ndw)
 {
 	if (ndp) {
-		path_release(ndp);
+		path_put(&ndp->path);
 		kfree(ndp);
 	}
 	if (ndw) {
-		path_release(ndw);
+		path_put(&ndw->path);
 		kfree(ndw);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/net/sunrpc/rpc_pipe.c b/net/sunrpc/rpc_pipe.c
index 6bc3babf6175..1b395a41a8b2 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/rpc_pipe.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/rpc_pipe.c
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ rpc_lookup_parent(char *path, struct nameidata *nd)
 static void
 rpc_release_path(struct nameidata *nd)
 {
-	path_release(nd);
+	path_put(&nd->path);
 	rpc_put_mount();
 }
 
diff --git a/net/unix/af_unix.c b/net/unix/af_unix.c
index 7c3323e8827b..b8788fd5e3c6 100644
--- a/net/unix/af_unix.c
+++ b/net/unix/af_unix.c
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@ static struct sock *unix_find_other(struct net *net,
 		if (u->sk_type == type)
 			touch_atime(nd.path.mnt, nd.path.dentry);
 
-		path_release(&nd);
+		path_put(&nd.path);
 
 		err=-EPROTOTYPE;
 		if (u->sk_type != type) {
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ static struct sock *unix_find_other(struct net *net,
 	return u;
 
 put_fail:
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 fail:
 	*error=err;
 	return NULL;
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ static int unix_bind(struct socket *sock, struct sockaddr *uaddr, int addr_len)
 	dput(dentry);
 out_mknod_unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&nd.path.dentry->d_inode->i_mutex);
-	path_release(&nd);
+	path_put(&nd.path);
 out_mknod_parent:
 	if (err==-EEXIST)
 		err=-EADDRINUSE;