pkt.hdr.proto_version = sbi->version;
        pkt.hdr.type = type;
-       mutex_lock(&sbi->wq_mutex);
 
-       /* Check if we have become catatonic */
-       if (sbi->catatonic) {
-               mutex_unlock(&sbi->wq_mutex);
-               return;
-       }
        switch (type) {
        /* Kernel protocol v4 missing and expire packets */
        case autofs_ptype_missing:
                wq->tgid = current->tgid;
                wq->status = -EINTR; /* Status return if interrupted */
                wq->wait_ctr = 2;
-               mutex_unlock(&sbi->wq_mutex);
 
                if (sbi->version < 5) {
                        if (notify == NFY_MOUNT)
                        (unsigned long) wq->wait_queue_token, wq->name.len,
                        wq->name.name, notify);
 
-               /* autofs4_notify_daemon() may block */
+               /* autofs4_notify_daemon() may block; it will unlock ->wq_mutex */
                autofs4_notify_daemon(sbi, wq, type);
        } else {
                wq->wait_ctr++;
-               mutex_unlock(&sbi->wq_mutex);
-               kfree(qstr.name);
                DPRINTK("existing wait id = 0x%08lx, name = %.*s, nfy=%d",
                        (unsigned long) wq->wait_queue_token, wq->name.len,
                        wq->name.name, notify);
+               mutex_unlock(&sbi->wq_mutex);
+               kfree(qstr.name);
        }
 
        /*