diff --git a/drivers/md/md-bitmap.c b/drivers/md/md-bitmap.c
index 8553f028825a..5200bba63708 100644
--- a/drivers/md/md-bitmap.c
+++ b/drivers/md/md-bitmap.c
@@ -2481,6 +2481,10 @@ backlog_store(struct mddev *mddev, const char *buf, size_t len)
 	if (backlog > COUNTER_MAX)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	rv = mddev_lock(mddev);
+	if (rv)
+		return rv;
+
 	/*
 	 * Without write mostly device, it doesn't make sense to set
 	 * backlog for max_write_behind.
@@ -2494,6 +2498,7 @@ backlog_store(struct mddev *mddev, const char *buf, size_t len)
 	if (!has_write_mostly) {
 		pr_warn_ratelimited("%s: can't set backlog, no write mostly device available\n",
 				    mdname(mddev));
+		mddev_unlock(mddev);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
@@ -2509,6 +2514,8 @@ backlog_store(struct mddev *mddev, const char *buf, size_t len)
 	}
 	if (old_mwb != backlog)
 		md_bitmap_update_sb(mddev->bitmap);
+
+	mddev_unlock(mddev);
 	return len;
 }