diff --git a/fs/nfsd/vfs.c b/fs/nfsd/vfs.c
index 65043af232ee49492b729062635f8bfce03edf06..627f460a4007e7f2c020491de22d4cefe1a331a2 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/vfs.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/vfs.c
@@ -135,21 +135,10 @@ nfsd_cross_mnt(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, struct dentry **dpp,
 	return err;
 }
 
-/*
- * Look up one component of a pathname.
- * N.B. After this call _both_ fhp and resfh need an fh_put
- *
- * If the lookup would cross a mountpoint, and the mounted filesystem
- * is exported to the client with NFSEXP_NOHIDE, then the lookup is
- * accepted as it stands and the mounted directory is
- * returned. Otherwise the covered directory is returned.
- * NOTE: this mountpoint crossing is not supported properly by all
- *   clients and is explicitly disallowed for NFSv3
- *      NeilBrown <neilb@cse.unsw.edu.au>
- */
 __be32
-nfsd_lookup(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, struct svc_fh *fhp, const char *name,
-					int len, struct svc_fh *resfh)
+nfsd_lookup_dentry(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, struct svc_fh *fhp,
+		   const char *name, int len,
+		   struct svc_export **exp_ret, struct dentry **dentry_ret)
 {
 	struct svc_export	*exp;
 	struct dentry		*dparent;
@@ -219,6 +208,38 @@ nfsd_lookup(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, struct svc_fh *fhp, const char *name,
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	*dentry_ret = dentry;
+	*exp_ret = exp;
+	return 0;
+
+out_nfserr:
+	exp_put(exp);
+	return nfserrno(host_err);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Look up one component of a pathname.
+ * N.B. After this call _both_ fhp and resfh need an fh_put
+ *
+ * If the lookup would cross a mountpoint, and the mounted filesystem
+ * is exported to the client with NFSEXP_NOHIDE, then the lookup is
+ * accepted as it stands and the mounted directory is
+ * returned. Otherwise the covered directory is returned.
+ * NOTE: this mountpoint crossing is not supported properly by all
+ *   clients and is explicitly disallowed for NFSv3
+ *      NeilBrown <neilb@cse.unsw.edu.au>
+ */
+__be32
+nfsd_lookup(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, struct svc_fh *fhp, const char *name,
+					int len, struct svc_fh *resfh)
+{
+	struct svc_export	*exp;
+	struct dentry		*dentry;
+	__be32 err;
+
+	err = nfsd_lookup_dentry(rqstp, fhp, name, len, &exp, &dentry);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
 	/*
 	 * Note: we compose the file handle now, but as the
 	 * dentry may be negative, it may need to be updated.
@@ -227,15 +248,11 @@ nfsd_lookup(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, struct svc_fh *fhp, const char *name,
 	if (!err && !dentry->d_inode)
 		err = nfserr_noent;
 	dput(dentry);
-out:
 	exp_put(exp);
 	return err;
-
-out_nfserr:
-	err = nfserrno(host_err);
-	goto out;
 }
 
+
 /*
  * Set various file attributes.
  * N.B. After this call fhp needs an fh_put