char *ptr, *buf = NULL;
        int err = -ENOMEM;
 
+       md_allow_write(mddev);
+
        file = kmalloc(sizeof(*file), GFP_KERNEL);
        if (!file)
                goto out;
        }
 }
 
+/* md_allow_write(mddev)
+ * Calling this ensures that the array is marked 'active' so that writes
+ * may proceed without blocking.  It is important to call this before
+ * attempting a GFP_KERNEL allocation while holding the mddev lock.
+ * Must be called with mddev_lock held.
+ */
+void md_allow_write(mddev_t *mddev)
+{
+       if (!mddev->pers)
+               return;
+       if (mddev->ro)
+               return;
+
+       spin_lock_irq(&mddev->write_lock);
+       if (mddev->in_sync) {
+               mddev->in_sync = 0;
+               set_bit(MD_CHANGE_CLEAN, &mddev->flags);
+               if (mddev->safemode_delay &&
+                   mddev->safemode == 0)
+                       mddev->safemode = 1;
+               spin_unlock_irq(&mddev->write_lock);
+               md_update_sb(mddev, 0);
+       } else
+               spin_unlock_irq(&mddev->write_lock);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(md_allow_write);
+
 static DECLARE_WAIT_QUEUE_HEAD(resync_wait);
 
 #define SYNC_MARKS     10
 
        if (newsize <= conf->pool_size)
                return 0; /* never bother to shrink */
 
+       md_allow_write(conf->mddev);
+
        /* Step 1 */
        sc = kmem_cache_create(conf->cache_name[1-conf->active_name],
                               sizeof(struct stripe_head)+(newsize-1)*sizeof(struct r5dev),
                else
                        break;
        }
+       md_allow_write(mddev);
        while (new > conf->max_nr_stripes) {
                if (grow_one_stripe(conf))
                        conf->max_nr_stripes++;
 
                        struct page *page, int rw);
 extern void md_do_sync(mddev_t *mddev);
 extern void md_new_event(mddev_t *mddev);
-
+extern void md_allow_write(mddev_t *mddev);
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_MD */
 #endif