diff --git a/drivers/char/viotape.c b/drivers/char/viotape.c
index 58aad63831f4..af03d2709300 100644
--- a/drivers/char/viotape.c
+++ b/drivers/char/viotape.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 #include <linux/completion.h>
 #include <linux/proc_fs.h>
 #include <linux/seq_file.h>
+#include <linux/smp_lock.h>
 
 #include <asm/uaccess.h>
 #include <asm/ioctls.h>
@@ -687,6 +688,7 @@ static int viotap_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 	if (op == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
+	lock_kernel()
 	get_dev_info(file->f_path.dentry->d_inode, &devi);
 
 	/* Note: We currently only support one mode! */
@@ -717,6 +719,7 @@ static int viotap_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 
 free_op:
 	free_op_struct(op);
+	unlock_kernel();
 	return ret;
 }