diff --git a/fs/cachefiles/interface.c b/fs/cachefiles/interface.c
index 746ce532e130ac3f49b7a31096b95fda6ef1d18e..3d763217faf30d65f72762866302c888c33c3d27 100644
--- a/fs/cachefiles/interface.c
+++ b/fs/cachefiles/interface.c
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ static void cachefiles_drop_object(struct fscache_object *_object)
 #endif
 
 	/* delete retired objects */
-	if (object->fscache.state == FSCACHE_OBJECT_RECYCLING &&
+	if (test_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_RETIRE, &object->fscache.flags) &&
 	    _object != cache->cache.fsdef
 	    ) {
 		_debug("- retire object OBJ%x", object->fscache.debug_id);
diff --git a/fs/cachefiles/namei.c b/fs/cachefiles/namei.c
index 01979a3f51214175dea87a35db995e4da925c27a..25badd1aec5c677215f20d9bd970261deab2dd35 100644
--- a/fs/cachefiles/namei.c
+++ b/fs/cachefiles/namei.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ void __cachefiles_printk_object(struct cachefiles_object *object,
 	printk(KERN_ERR "%sobject: OBJ%x\n",
 	       prefix, object->fscache.debug_id);
 	printk(KERN_ERR "%sobjstate=%s fl=%lx wbusy=%x ev=%lx[%lx]\n",
-	       prefix, fscache_object_states[object->fscache.state],
+	       prefix, object->fscache.state->name,
 	       object->fscache.flags, work_busy(&object->fscache.work),
 	       object->fscache.events, object->fscache.event_mask);
 	printk(KERN_ERR "%sops=%u inp=%u exc=%u\n",
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ static void cachefiles_mark_object_buried(struct cachefiles_cache *cache,
 found_dentry:
 	kdebug("preemptive burial: OBJ%x [%s] %p",
 	       object->fscache.debug_id,
-	       fscache_object_states[object->fscache.state],
+	       object->fscache.state->name,
 	       dentry);
 
 	if (fscache_object_is_live(&object->fscache)) {
diff --git a/fs/fscache/cache.c b/fs/fscache/cache.c
index 129ea537f02396f6fbbd078e06b1d73a3d38bd1c..f7cff367db7f2df8c358b5a723889b4bd8790f54 100644
--- a/fs/fscache/cache.c
+++ b/fs/fscache/cache.c
@@ -224,8 +224,10 @@ int fscache_add_cache(struct fscache_cache *cache,
 	BUG_ON(!ifsdef);
 
 	cache->flags = 0;
-	ifsdef->event_mask = ULONG_MAX & ~(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED);
-	ifsdef->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_ACTIVE;
+	ifsdef->event_mask =
+		((1 << NR_FSCACHE_OBJECT_EVENTS) - 1) &
+		~(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED);
+	__set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_AVAILABLE, &ifsdef->flags);
 
 	if (!tagname)
 		tagname = cache->identifier;
@@ -330,25 +332,25 @@ static void fscache_withdraw_all_objects(struct fscache_cache *cache,
 {
 	struct fscache_object *object;
 
-	spin_lock(&cache->object_list_lock);
-
 	while (!list_empty(&cache->object_list)) {
-		object = list_entry(cache->object_list.next,
-				    struct fscache_object, cache_link);
-		list_move_tail(&object->cache_link, dying_objects);
+		spin_lock(&cache->object_list_lock);
 
-		_debug("withdraw %p", object->cookie);
+		if (!list_empty(&cache->object_list)) {
+			object = list_entry(cache->object_list.next,
+					    struct fscache_object, cache_link);
+			list_move_tail(&object->cache_link, dying_objects);
 
-		spin_lock(&object->lock);
-		spin_unlock(&cache->object_list_lock);
-		fscache_raise_event(object, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW);
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
+			_debug("withdraw %p", object->cookie);
+
+			/* This must be done under object_list_lock to prevent
+			 * a race with fscache_drop_object().
+			 */
+			fscache_raise_event(object, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_KILL);
+		}
 
+		spin_unlock(&cache->object_list_lock);
 		cond_resched();
-		spin_lock(&cache->object_list_lock);
 	}
-
-	spin_unlock(&cache->object_list_lock);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/fs/fscache/cookie.c b/fs/fscache/cookie.c
index a5f36c921e9111081aa487932360086b87f1bb30..eee436646989e39e4b3ed025b3c2c5bc46a08a0d 100644
--- a/fs/fscache/cookie.c
+++ b/fs/fscache/cookie.c
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ static int fscache_acquire_non_index_cookie(struct fscache_cookie *cookie)
 
 	/* initiate the process of looking up all the objects in the chain
 	 * (done by fscache_initialise_object()) */
-	fscache_enqueue_object(object);
+	fscache_raise_event(object, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_NEW_CHILD);
 
 	spin_unlock(&cookie->lock);
 
@@ -469,7 +469,6 @@ void __fscache_relinquish_cookie(struct fscache_cookie *cookie, int retire)
 {
 	struct fscache_cache *cache;
 	struct fscache_object *object;
-	unsigned long event;
 
 	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_relinquishes);
 	if (retire)
@@ -497,8 +496,6 @@ void __fscache_relinquish_cookie(struct fscache_cookie *cookie, int retire)
 			    fscache_wait_bit, TASK_UNINTERRUPTIBLE);
 	}
 
-	event = retire ? FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE : FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE;
-
 try_again:
 	spin_lock(&cookie->lock);
 
@@ -533,7 +530,9 @@ void __fscache_relinquish_cookie(struct fscache_cookie *cookie, int retire)
 
 		cache = object->cache;
 		object->cookie = NULL;
-		fscache_raise_event(object, event);
+		if (retire)
+			set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_RETIRE, &object->flags);
+		fscache_raise_event(object, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_KILL);
 		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
 
 		if (atomic_dec_and_test(&cookie->usage))
diff --git a/fs/fscache/internal.h b/fs/fscache/internal.h
index ee38fef4be5173dc43abf6648b5a7cf00037a7ca..3322d3c42ba8c2d656a1535fc9b9234d328eafe4 100644
--- a/fs/fscache/internal.h
+++ b/fs/fscache/internal.h
@@ -97,10 +97,6 @@ extern int fscache_wait_bit_interruptible(void *);
 /*
  * object.c
  */
-extern const char fscache_object_states_short[FSCACHE_OBJECT__NSTATES][5];
-
-extern void fscache_withdrawing_object(struct fscache_cache *,
-				       struct fscache_object *);
 extern void fscache_enqueue_object(struct fscache_object *);
 
 /*
@@ -291,6 +287,10 @@ static inline void fscache_raise_event(struct fscache_object *object,
 				       unsigned event)
 {
 	BUG_ON(event >= NR_FSCACHE_OBJECT_EVENTS);
+#if 0
+	printk("*** fscache_raise_event(OBJ%d{%lx},%x)\n",
+	       object->debug_id, object->event_mask, (1 << event));
+#endif
 	if (!test_and_set_bit(event, &object->events) &&
 	    test_bit(event, &object->event_mask))
 		fscache_enqueue_object(object);
diff --git a/fs/fscache/object-list.c b/fs/fscache/object-list.c
index f27c89d178855bbe2adfd0aba12a816eae7ab409..4a386b080e038fa23e5eb662a6f6025a438f0263 100644
--- a/fs/fscache/object-list.c
+++ b/fs/fscache/object-list.c
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ static int fscache_objlist_show(struct seq_file *m, void *v)
 
 	if ((unsigned long) v == 1) {
 		seq_puts(m, "OBJECT   PARENT   STAT CHLDN OPS OOP IPR EX READS"
-			 " EM EV F S"
+			 " EM EV FL S"
 			 " | NETFS_COOKIE_DEF TY FL NETFS_DATA");
 		if (config & (FSCACHE_OBJLIST_CONFIG_KEY |
 			      FSCACHE_OBJLIST_CONFIG_AUX))
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ static int fscache_objlist_show(struct seq_file *m, void *v)
 
 	if ((unsigned long) v == 2) {
 		seq_puts(m, "======== ======== ==== ===== === === === == ====="
-			 " == == = ="
+			 " == == == ="
 			 " | ================ == == ================");
 		if (config & (FSCACHE_OBJLIST_CONFIG_KEY |
 			      FSCACHE_OBJLIST_CONFIG_AUX))
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ static int fscache_objlist_show(struct seq_file *m, void *v)
 	if (~config) {
 		FILTER(obj->cookie,
 		       COOKIE, NOCOOKIE);
-		FILTER(obj->state != FSCACHE_OBJECT_ACTIVE ||
+		FILTER(fscache_object_is_active(obj) ||
 		       obj->n_ops != 0 ||
 		       obj->n_obj_ops != 0 ||
 		       obj->flags ||
@@ -235,10 +235,10 @@ static int fscache_objlist_show(struct seq_file *m, void *v)
 	}
 
 	seq_printf(m,
-		   "%8x %8x %s %5u %3u %3u %3u %2u %5u %2lx %2lx %1lx %1x | ",
+		   "%8x %8x %s %5u %3u %3u %3u %2u %5u %2lx %2lx %2lx %1x | ",
 		   obj->debug_id,
 		   obj->parent ? obj->parent->debug_id : -1,
-		   fscache_object_states_short[obj->state],
+		   obj->state->short_name,
 		   obj->n_children,
 		   obj->n_ops,
 		   obj->n_obj_ops,
diff --git a/fs/fscache/object.c b/fs/fscache/object.c
index 863f6873c0f035cb723e59c2a75fd929ed66c53a..8f17debd7979fbe13e41acd69bc64b06834b0987 100644
--- a/fs/fscache/object.c
+++ b/fs/fscache/object.c
@@ -15,52 +15,133 @@
 #define FSCACHE_DEBUG_LEVEL COOKIE
 #include <linux/module.h>
 #include <linux/slab.h>
+#include <linux/prefetch.h>
 #include "internal.h"
 
-const char *fscache_object_states[FSCACHE_OBJECT__NSTATES] = {
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_INIT]		= "OBJECT_INIT",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_LOOKING_UP]	= "OBJECT_LOOKING_UP",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_CREATING]	= "OBJECT_CREATING",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_AVAILABLE]	= "OBJECT_AVAILABLE",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_ACTIVE]		= "OBJECT_ACTIVE",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_INVALIDATING]	= "OBJECT_INVALIDATING",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_UPDATING]	= "OBJECT_UPDATING",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING]		= "OBJECT_DYING",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_LC_DYING]	= "OBJECT_LC_DYING",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_ABORT_INIT]	= "OBJECT_ABORT_INIT",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_RELEASING]	= "OBJECT_RELEASING",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_RECYCLING]	= "OBJECT_RECYCLING",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_WITHDRAWING]	= "OBJECT_WITHDRAWING",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_DEAD]		= "OBJECT_DEAD",
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_abort_initialisation(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_kill_dependents(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_drop_object(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_initialise_object(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_invalidate_object(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_jumpstart_dependents(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_kill_object(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_lookup_failure(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_look_up_object(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_object_available(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_parent_ready(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_update_object(struct fscache_object *, int);
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_detach_from_cookie(struct fscache_object *, int);
+
+#define __STATE_NAME(n) fscache_osm_##n
+#define STATE(n) (&__STATE_NAME(n))
+
+/*
+ * Define a work state.  Work states are execution states.  No event processing
+ * is performed by them.  The function attached to a work state returns a
+ * pointer indicating the next state to which the state machine should
+ * transition.  Returning NO_TRANSIT repeats the current state, but goes back
+ * to the scheduler first.
+ */
+#define WORK_STATE(n, sn, f) \
+	const struct fscache_state __STATE_NAME(n) = {			\
+		.name = #n,						\
+		.short_name = sn,					\
+		.work = f						\
+	}
+
+/*
+ * Returns from work states.
+ */
+#define transit_to(state) ({ prefetch(&STATE(state)->work); STATE(state); })
+
+#define NO_TRANSIT ((struct fscache_state *)NULL)
+
+/*
+ * Define a wait state.  Wait states are event processing states.  No execution
+ * is performed by them.  Wait states are just tables of "if event X occurs,
+ * clear it and transition to state Y".  The dispatcher returns to the
+ * scheduler if none of the events in which the wait state has an interest are
+ * currently pending.
+ */
+#define WAIT_STATE(n, sn, ...) \
+	const struct fscache_state __STATE_NAME(n) = {			\
+		.name = #n,						\
+		.short_name = sn,					\
+		.work = NULL,						\
+		.transitions = { __VA_ARGS__, { 0, NULL } }		\
+	}
+
+#define TRANSIT_TO(state, emask) \
+	{ .events = (emask), .transit_to = STATE(state) }
+
+/*
+ * The object state machine.
+ */
+static WORK_STATE(INIT_OBJECT,		"INIT", fscache_initialise_object);
+static WORK_STATE(PARENT_READY,		"PRDY", fscache_parent_ready);
+static WORK_STATE(ABORT_INIT,		"ABRT", fscache_abort_initialisation);
+static WORK_STATE(LOOK_UP_OBJECT,	"LOOK", fscache_look_up_object);
+static WORK_STATE(CREATE_OBJECT,	"CRTO", fscache_look_up_object);
+static WORK_STATE(OBJECT_AVAILABLE,	"AVBL", fscache_object_available);
+static WORK_STATE(JUMPSTART_DEPS,	"JUMP", fscache_jumpstart_dependents);
+
+static WORK_STATE(INVALIDATE_OBJECT,	"INVL", fscache_invalidate_object);
+static WORK_STATE(UPDATE_OBJECT,	"UPDT", fscache_update_object);
+
+static WORK_STATE(LOOKUP_FAILURE,	"LCFL", fscache_lookup_failure);
+static WORK_STATE(KILL_OBJECT,		"KILL", fscache_kill_object);
+static WORK_STATE(KILL_DEPENDENTS,	"KDEP", fscache_kill_dependents);
+static WORK_STATE(DROP_OBJECT,		"DROP", fscache_drop_object);
+static WORK_STATE(DETACH_FROM_COOKIE,	"DTCH", fscache_detach_from_cookie);
+static WORK_STATE(OBJECT_DEAD,		"DEAD", (void*)2UL);
+
+static WAIT_STATE(WAIT_FOR_INIT,	"?INI",
+		  TRANSIT_TO(INIT_OBJECT,	1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_NEW_CHILD));
+
+static WAIT_STATE(WAIT_FOR_PARENT,	"?PRN",
+		  TRANSIT_TO(PARENT_READY,	1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_PARENT_READY));
+
+static WAIT_STATE(WAIT_FOR_CMD,		"?CMD",
+		  TRANSIT_TO(INVALIDATE_OBJECT,	1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_INVALIDATE),
+		  TRANSIT_TO(UPDATE_OBJECT,	1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_UPDATE),
+		  TRANSIT_TO(JUMPSTART_DEPS,	1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_NEW_CHILD));
+
+static WAIT_STATE(WAIT_FOR_CLEARANCE,	"?CLR",
+		  TRANSIT_TO(KILL_OBJECT,	1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED));
+
+/*
+ * Out-of-band event transition tables.  These are for handling unexpected
+ * events, such as an I/O error.  If an OOB event occurs, the state machine
+ * clears and disables the event and forces a transition to the nominated work
+ * state (acurrently executing work states will complete first).
+ *
+ * In such a situation, object->state remembers the state the machine should
+ * have been in/gone to and returning NO_TRANSIT returns to that.
+ */
+static const struct fscache_transition fscache_osm_init_oob[] = {
+	   TRANSIT_TO(ABORT_INIT,
+		      (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR) |
+		      (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_KILL)),
+	   { 0, NULL }
 };
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(fscache_object_states);
-
-const char fscache_object_states_short[FSCACHE_OBJECT__NSTATES][5] = {
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_INIT]		= "INIT",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_LOOKING_UP]	= "LOOK",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_CREATING]	= "CRTN",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_AVAILABLE]	= "AVBL",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_ACTIVE]		= "ACTV",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_INVALIDATING]	= "INVL",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_UPDATING]	= "UPDT",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING]		= "DYNG",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_LC_DYING]	= "LCDY",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_ABORT_INIT]	= "ABTI",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_RELEASING]	= "RELS",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_RECYCLING]	= "RCYC",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_WITHDRAWING]	= "WTHD",
-	[FSCACHE_OBJECT_DEAD]		= "DEAD",
+
+static const struct fscache_transition fscache_osm_lookup_oob[] = {
+	   TRANSIT_TO(LOOKUP_FAILURE,
+		      (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR) |
+		      (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_KILL)),
+	   { 0, NULL }
+};
+
+static const struct fscache_transition fscache_osm_run_oob[] = {
+	   TRANSIT_TO(KILL_OBJECT,
+		      (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR) |
+		      (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_KILL)),
+	   { 0, NULL }
 };
 
 static int  fscache_get_object(struct fscache_object *);
 static void fscache_put_object(struct fscache_object *);
-static void fscache_initialise_object(struct fscache_object *);
-static void fscache_lookup_object(struct fscache_object *);
-static void fscache_object_available(struct fscache_object *);
-static void fscache_invalidate_object(struct fscache_object *);
-static void fscache_release_object(struct fscache_object *);
-static void fscache_withdraw_object(struct fscache_object *);
-static void fscache_enqueue_dependents(struct fscache_object *);
+static bool fscache_enqueue_dependents(struct fscache_object *, int);
 static void fscache_dequeue_object(struct fscache_object *);
 
 /*
@@ -83,281 +164,102 @@ static inline void fscache_done_parent_op(struct fscache_object *object)
 }
 
 /*
- * Notify netfs of invalidation completion.
+ * Object state machine dispatcher.
  */
-static inline void fscache_invalidation_complete(struct fscache_cookie *cookie)
+static void fscache_object_sm_dispatcher(struct fscache_object *object)
 {
-	if (test_and_clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_INVALIDATING, &cookie->flags))
-		wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_INVALIDATING);
-}
-
-/*
- * process events that have been sent to an object's state machine
- * - initiates parent lookup
- * - does object lookup
- * - does object creation
- * - does object recycling and retirement
- * - does object withdrawal
- */
-static void fscache_object_state_machine(struct fscache_object *object)
-{
-	enum fscache_object_state new_state;
-	struct fscache_cookie *cookie;
-	int event;
+	const struct fscache_transition *t;
+	const struct fscache_state *state, *new_state;
+	unsigned long events, event_mask;
+	int event = -1;
 
 	ASSERT(object != NULL);
 
 	_enter("{OBJ%x,%s,%lx}",
-	       object->debug_id, fscache_object_states[object->state],
-	       object->events);
-
-	switch (object->state) {
-		/* wait for the parent object to become ready */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_INIT:
-		object->event_mask =
-			FSCACHE_OBJECT_EVENTS_MASK &
-			~(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED);
-		fscache_initialise_object(object);
-		goto done;
-
-		/* look up the object metadata on disk */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_LOOKING_UP:
-		fscache_lookup_object(object);
-		goto lookup_transit;
-
-		/* create the object metadata on disk */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_CREATING:
-		fscache_lookup_object(object);
-		goto lookup_transit;
-
-		/* handle an object becoming available; start pending
-		 * operations and queue dependent operations for processing */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_AVAILABLE:
-		fscache_object_available(object);
-		goto active_transit;
-
-		/* normal running state */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_ACTIVE:
-		goto active_transit;
-
-		/* Invalidate an object on disk */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_INVALIDATING:
-		clear_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_INVALIDATE, &object->events);
-		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_invalidates_run);
-		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_invalidate_object);
-		fscache_invalidate_object(object);
-		fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_invalidate_object);
-		fscache_raise_event(object, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_UPDATE);
-		goto active_transit;
-
-		/* update the object metadata on disk */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_UPDATING:
-		clear_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_UPDATE, &object->events);
-		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_updates_run);
-		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_update_object);
-		object->cache->ops->update_object(object);
-		fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_update_object);
-		goto active_transit;
-
-		/* handle an object dying during lookup or creation */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_LC_DYING:
-		object->event_mask &= ~(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_UPDATE);
-		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_lookup_complete);
-		object->cache->ops->lookup_complete(object);
-		fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_lookup_complete);
-
-		spin_lock(&object->lock);
-		object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING;
-		cookie = object->cookie;
-		if (cookie) {
-			if (test_and_clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP,
-					       &cookie->flags))
-				wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags,
-					    FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP);
-			if (test_and_clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING,
-					       &cookie->flags))
-				wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags,
-					    FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING);
+	       object->debug_id, object->state->name, object->events);
+
+	event_mask = object->event_mask;
+restart:
+	object->event_mask = 0; /* Mask normal event handling */
+	state = object->state;
+restart_masked:
+	events = object->events;
+
+	/* Handle any out-of-band events (typically an error) */
+	if (events & object->oob_event_mask) {
+		_debug("{OBJ%x} oob %lx",
+		       object->debug_id, events & object->oob_event_mask);
+		for (t = object->oob_table; t->events; t++) {
+			if (events & t->events) {
+				state = t->transit_to;
+				ASSERT(state->work != NULL);
+				event = fls(events & t->events) - 1;
+				__clear_bit(event, &object->oob_event_mask);
+				clear_bit(event, &object->events);
+				goto execute_work_state;
+			}
 		}
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
+	}
 
-		fscache_done_parent_op(object);
+	/* Wait states are just transition tables */
+	if (!state->work) {
+		if (events & event_mask) {
+			for (t = state->transitions; t->events; t++) {
+				if (events & t->events) {
+					new_state = t->transit_to;
+					event = fls(events & t->events) - 1;
+					clear_bit(event, &object->events);
+					_debug("{OBJ%x} ev %d: %s -> %s",
+					       object->debug_id, event,
+					       state->name, new_state->name);
+					object->state = state = new_state;
+					goto execute_work_state;
+				}
+			}
 
-		/* wait for completion of all active operations on this object
-		 * and the death of all child objects of this object */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING:
-	dying:
-		clear_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED, &object->events);
-		spin_lock(&object->lock);
-		_debug("dying OBJ%x {%d,%d}",
-		       object->debug_id, object->n_ops, object->n_children);
-		if (object->n_ops == 0 && object->n_children == 0) {
-			object->event_mask &=
-				~(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED);
-			object->event_mask |=
-				(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW) |
-				(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE) |
-				(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE) |
-				(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR);
-		} else {
-			object->event_mask &=
-				~((1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW) |
-				  (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE) |
-				  (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE) |
-				  (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR));
-			object->event_mask |=
-				1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED;
+			/* The event mask didn't include all the tabled bits */
+			BUG();
 		}
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
-		fscache_enqueue_dependents(object);
-		fscache_start_operations(object);
-		goto terminal_transit;
-
-		/* handle an abort during initialisation */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_ABORT_INIT:
-		_debug("handle abort init %lx", object->events);
-		object->event_mask &= ~(1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_UPDATE);
-
-		spin_lock(&object->lock);
-		fscache_dequeue_object(object);
-
-		object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING;
-		if (test_and_clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING,
-				       &object->cookie->flags))
-			wake_up_bit(&object->cookie->flags,
-				    FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING);
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
-		goto dying;
-
-		/* handle the netfs releasing an object and possibly marking it
-		 * obsolete too */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_RELEASING:
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_RECYCLING:
-		object->event_mask &=
-			~((1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW) |
-			  (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE) |
-			  (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE) |
-			  (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR));
-		fscache_release_object(object);
-		spin_lock(&object->lock);
-		object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_DEAD;
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
-		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_object_dead);
-		goto terminal_transit;
-
-		/* handle the parent cache of this object being withdrawn from
-		 * active service */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_WITHDRAWING:
-		object->event_mask &=
-			~((1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW) |
-			  (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE) |
-			  (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE) |
-			  (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR));
-		fscache_withdraw_object(object);
-		spin_lock(&object->lock);
-		object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_DEAD;
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
-		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_object_dead);
-		goto terminal_transit;
-
-		/* complain about the object being woken up once it is
-		 * deceased */
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_DEAD:
-		printk(KERN_ERR "FS-Cache:"
-		       " Unexpected event in dead state %lx\n",
-		       object->events & object->event_mask);
-		BUG();
-
-	default:
-		printk(KERN_ERR "FS-Cache: Unknown object state %u\n",
-		       object->state);
-		BUG();
+		/* Randomly woke up */
+		goto unmask_events;
 	}
 
-	/* determine the transition from a lookup state */
-lookup_transit:
-	event = fls(object->events & object->event_mask) - 1;
-	switch (event) {
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW:
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE:
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE:
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_LC_DYING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_INVALIDATE:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_INVALIDATING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_REQUEUE:
-		goto done;
-	case -1:
-		goto done; /* sleep until event */
-	default:
-		goto unsupported_event;
-	}
-
-	/* determine the transition from an active state */
-active_transit:
-	event = fls(object->events & object->event_mask) - 1;
-	switch (event) {
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW:
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE:
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE:
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_INVALIDATE:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_INVALIDATING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_UPDATE:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_UPDATING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case -1:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_ACTIVE;
-		goto change_state; /* sleep until event */
-	default:
-		goto unsupported_event;
-	}
+execute_work_state:
+	_debug("{OBJ%x} exec %s", object->debug_id, state->name);
 
-	/* determine the transition from a terminal state */
-terminal_transit:
-	event = fls(object->events & object->event_mask) - 1;
-	switch (event) {
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_WITHDRAWING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_RECYCLING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_RELEASING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_WITHDRAWING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED:
-		new_state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING;
-		goto change_state;
-	case -1:
-		goto done; /* sleep until event */
-	default:
-		goto unsupported_event;
+	new_state = state->work(object, event);
+	event = -1;
+	if (new_state == NO_TRANSIT) {
+		_debug("{OBJ%x} %s notrans", object->debug_id, state->name);
+		fscache_enqueue_object(object);
+		event_mask = object->oob_event_mask;
+		goto unmask_events;
 	}
 
-change_state:
-	spin_lock(&object->lock);
-	object->state = new_state;
-	spin_unlock(&object->lock);
+	_debug("{OBJ%x} %s -> %s",
+	       object->debug_id, state->name, new_state->name);
+	object->state = state = new_state;
 
-done:
-	_leave(" [->%s]", fscache_object_states[object->state]);
-	return;
+	if (state->work) {
+		if (unlikely(state->work == ((void *)2UL))) {
+			_leave(" [dead]");
+			return;
+		}
+		goto restart_masked;
+	}
 
-unsupported_event:
-	printk(KERN_ERR "FS-Cache:"
-	       " Unsupported event %d [%lx/%lx] in state %s\n",
-	       event, object->events, object->event_mask,
-	       fscache_object_states[object->state]);
-	BUG();
+	/* Transited to wait state */
+	event_mask = object->oob_event_mask;
+	for (t = state->transitions; t->events; t++)
+		event_mask |= t->events;
+
+unmask_events:
+	object->event_mask = event_mask;
+	smp_mb();
+	events = object->events;
+	if (events & event_mask)
+		goto restart;
+	_leave(" [msk %lx]", event_mask);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -372,11 +274,8 @@ static void fscache_object_work_func(struct work_struct *work)
 	_enter("{OBJ%x}", object->debug_id);
 
 	start = jiffies;
-	fscache_object_state_machine(object);
+	fscache_object_sm_dispatcher(object);
 	fscache_hist(fscache_objs_histogram, start);
-	if (object->events & object->event_mask)
-		fscache_enqueue_object(object);
-	clear_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_REQUEUE, &object->events);
 	fscache_put_object(object);
 }
 
@@ -395,9 +294,13 @@ void fscache_object_init(struct fscache_object *object,
 			 struct fscache_cookie *cookie,
 			 struct fscache_cache *cache)
 {
+	const struct fscache_transition *t;
+
 	atomic_inc(&cache->object_count);
 
-	object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_INIT;
+	object->state = STATE(WAIT_FOR_INIT);
+	object->oob_table = fscache_osm_init_oob;
+	object->flags = 1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LIVE;
 	spin_lock_init(&object->lock);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&object->cache_link);
 	INIT_HLIST_NODE(&object->cookie_link);
@@ -407,16 +310,47 @@ void fscache_object_init(struct fscache_object *object,
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&object->pending_ops);
 	object->n_children = 0;
 	object->n_ops = object->n_in_progress = object->n_exclusive = 0;
-	object->events = object->event_mask = 0;
-	object->flags = 0;
+	object->events = 0;
 	object->store_limit = 0;
 	object->store_limit_l = 0;
 	object->cache = cache;
 	object->cookie = cookie;
 	object->parent = NULL;
+
+	object->oob_event_mask = 0;
+	for (t = object->oob_table; t->events; t++)
+		object->oob_event_mask |= t->events;
+	object->event_mask = object->oob_event_mask;
+	for (t = object->state->transitions; t->events; t++)
+		object->event_mask |= t->events;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(fscache_object_init);
 
+/*
+ * Abort object initialisation before we start it.
+ */
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_abort_initialisation(struct fscache_object *object,
+								int event)
+{
+	struct fscache_cookie *cookie;
+
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
+
+	object->oob_event_mask = 0;
+	clear_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LIVE, &object->flags);
+
+	fscache_dequeue_object(object);
+
+	spin_lock(&object->lock);
+	cookie = object->cookie;
+	clear_bit_unlock(FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING, &cookie->flags);
+	spin_unlock(&object->lock);
+
+	wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING);
+
+	return transit_to(KILL_OBJECT);
+}
+
 /*
  * initialise an object
  * - check the specified object's parent to see if we can make use of it
@@ -426,74 +360,78 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(fscache_object_init);
  * - an object's cookie is pinned until we clear FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING on the
  *   leaf-most cookies of the object and all its children
  */
-static void fscache_initialise_object(struct fscache_object *object)
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_initialise_object(struct fscache_object *object,
+							     int event)
 {
 	struct fscache_object *parent;
+	bool success;
 
-	_enter("");
-	ASSERT(object->cookie != NULL);
-	ASSERT(object->cookie->parent != NULL);
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
 
-	if (object->events & ((1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR) |
-			      (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE) |
-			      (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE) |
-			      (1 << FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW))) {
-		_debug("abort init %lx", object->events);
-		spin_lock(&object->lock);
-		object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_ABORT_INIT;
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
-		return;
-	}
-
-	spin_lock(&object->cookie->lock);
-	spin_lock_nested(&object->cookie->parent->lock, 1);
+	ASSERT(list_empty(&object->dep_link));
 
 	parent = object->parent;
 	if (!parent) {
-		_debug("no parent");
-		set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW, &object->events);
-	} else {
-		spin_lock(&object->lock);
-		spin_lock_nested(&parent->lock, 1);
-		_debug("parent %s", fscache_object_states[parent->state]);
-
-		if (fscache_object_is_dying(parent)) {
-			_debug("bad parent");
-			set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW, &object->events);
-		} else if (!fscache_object_is_available(parent)) {
-			_debug("wait");
-
-			/* we may get woken up in this state by child objects
-			 * binding on to us, so we need to make sure we don't
-			 * add ourself to the list multiple times */
-			if (list_empty(&object->dep_link)) {
-				fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_grab_object);
-				object->cache->ops->grab_object(object);
-				fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_grab_object);
-				list_add(&object->dep_link,
-					 &parent->dependents);
-
-				/* fscache_acquire_non_index_cookie() uses this
-				 * to wake the chain up */
-				if (parent->state == FSCACHE_OBJECT_INIT)
-					fscache_enqueue_object(parent);
-			}
-		} else {
-			_debug("go");
-			parent->n_ops++;
-			parent->n_obj_ops++;
-			object->lookup_jif = jiffies;
-			object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_LOOKING_UP;
-			set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_REQUEUE, &object->events);
-		}
+		_leave(" [no parent]");
+		return transit_to(DETACH_FROM_COOKIE);
+	}
 
-		spin_unlock(&parent->lock);
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
+	_debug("parent %s", parent->state->name);
+
+	if (fscache_object_is_dying(parent)) {
+		_leave(" [bad parent]");
+		return transit_to(DETACH_FROM_COOKIE);
+	}
+
+	if (fscache_object_is_available(parent)) {
+		_leave(" [ready]");
+		return transit_to(PARENT_READY);
+	}
+
+	_debug("wait");
+
+	spin_lock(&parent->lock);
+	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_grab_object);
+	success = false;
+	if (fscache_object_is_live(parent) &&
+	    object->cache->ops->grab_object(object)) {
+		list_add(&object->dep_link, &parent->dependents);
+		success = true;
+	}
+	fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_grab_object);
+	spin_unlock(&parent->lock);
+	if (!success) {
+		_leave(" [grab failed]");
+		return transit_to(DETACH_FROM_COOKIE);
 	}
 
-	spin_unlock(&object->cookie->parent->lock);
-	spin_unlock(&object->cookie->lock);
+	/* fscache_acquire_non_index_cookie() uses this
+	 * to wake the chain up */
+	fscache_raise_event(parent, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_NEW_CHILD);
+	_leave(" [wait]");
+	return transit_to(WAIT_FOR_PARENT);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Once the parent object is ready, we should kick off our lookup op.
+ */
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_parent_ready(struct fscache_object *object,
+							int event)
+{
+	struct fscache_object *parent = object->parent;
+
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
+
+	ASSERT(parent != NULL);
+
+	spin_lock(&parent->lock);
+	parent->n_ops++;
+	parent->n_obj_ops++;
+	object->lookup_jif = jiffies;
+	spin_unlock(&parent->lock);
+
 	_leave("");
+	return transit_to(LOOK_UP_OBJECT);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -503,15 +441,17 @@ static void fscache_initialise_object(struct fscache_object *object)
  * - an object's cookie is pinned until we clear FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING on the
  *   leaf-most cookies of the object and all its children
  */
-static void fscache_lookup_object(struct fscache_object *object)
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_look_up_object(struct fscache_object *object,
+							  int event)
 {
 	struct fscache_cookie *cookie = object->cookie;
-	struct fscache_object *parent;
+	struct fscache_object *parent = object->parent;
 	int ret;
 
-	_enter("");
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
+
+	object->oob_table = fscache_osm_lookup_oob;
 
-	parent = object->parent;
 	ASSERT(parent != NULL);
 	ASSERTCMP(parent->n_ops, >, 0);
 	ASSERTCMP(parent->n_obj_ops, >, 0);
@@ -521,10 +461,8 @@ static void fscache_lookup_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 
 	if (fscache_object_is_dying(parent) ||
 	    test_bit(FSCACHE_IOERROR, &object->cache->flags)) {
-		_debug("unavailable");
-		set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW, &object->events);
-		_leave("");
-		return;
+		_leave(" [unavailable]");
+		return transit_to(LOOKUP_FAILURE);
 	}
 
 	_debug("LOOKUP \"%s/%s\" in \"%s\"",
@@ -543,10 +481,17 @@ static void fscache_lookup_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 		/* probably stuck behind another object, so move this one to
 		 * the back of the queue */
 		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_object_lookups_timed_out);
-		set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_REQUEUE, &object->events);
+		_leave(" [timeout]");
+		return NO_TRANSIT;
 	}
 
-	_leave("");
+	if (ret < 0) {
+		_leave(" [error]");
+		return transit_to(LOOKUP_FAILURE);
+	}
+
+	_leave(" [ok]");
+	return transit_to(OBJECT_AVAILABLE);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -560,32 +505,20 @@ void fscache_object_lookup_negative(struct fscache_object *object)
 {
 	struct fscache_cookie *cookie = object->cookie;
 
-	_enter("{OBJ%x,%s}",
-	       object->debug_id, fscache_object_states[object->state]);
+	_enter("{OBJ%x,%s}", object->debug_id, object->state->name);
 
-	spin_lock(&object->lock);
-	if (object->state == FSCACHE_OBJECT_LOOKING_UP) {
+	if (!test_and_set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LOOKED_UP, &object->flags)) {
 		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_object_lookups_negative);
 
-		/* transit here to allow write requests to begin stacking up
-		 * and read requests to begin returning ENODATA */
-		object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_CREATING;
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
-
-		set_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_PENDING_FILL, &cookie->flags);
+		/* Allow write requests to begin stacking up and read requests to begin
+		 * returning ENODATA.
+		 */
 		set_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_NO_DATA_YET, &cookie->flags);
 
 		_debug("wake up lookup %p", &cookie->flags);
-		smp_mb__before_clear_bit();
-		clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP, &cookie->flags);
-		smp_mb__after_clear_bit();
+		clear_bit_unlock(FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP, &cookie->flags);
 		wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP);
-		set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_REQUEUE, &object->events);
-	} else {
-		ASSERTCMP(object->state, ==, FSCACHE_OBJECT_CREATING);
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
 	}
-
 	_leave("");
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(fscache_object_lookup_negative);
@@ -604,37 +537,30 @@ void fscache_obtained_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 {
 	struct fscache_cookie *cookie = object->cookie;
 
-	_enter("{OBJ%x,%s}",
-	       object->debug_id, fscache_object_states[object->state]);
+	_enter("{OBJ%x,%s}", object->debug_id, object->state->name);
 
 	/* if we were still looking up, then we must have a positive lookup
 	 * result, in which case there may be data available */
-	spin_lock(&object->lock);
-	if (object->state == FSCACHE_OBJECT_LOOKING_UP) {
+	if (!test_and_set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LOOKED_UP, &object->flags)) {
 		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_object_lookups_positive);
 
-		clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_NO_DATA_YET, &cookie->flags);
-
-		object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_AVAILABLE;
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
+		/* We do (presumably) have data */
+		clear_bit_unlock(FSCACHE_COOKIE_NO_DATA_YET, &cookie->flags);
 
-		smp_mb__before_clear_bit();
-		clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP, &cookie->flags);
-		smp_mb__after_clear_bit();
+		/* Allow write requests to begin stacking up and read requests
+		 * to begin shovelling data.
+		 */
+		clear_bit_unlock(FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP, &cookie->flags);
 		wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP);
-		set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_REQUEUE, &object->events);
 	} else {
-		ASSERTCMP(object->state, ==, FSCACHE_OBJECT_CREATING);
 		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_object_created);
-
-		object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_AVAILABLE;
-		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
-		set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_REQUEUE, &object->events);
-		smp_wmb();
 	}
 
-	if (test_and_clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING, &cookie->flags))
-		wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING);
+	set_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_AVAILABLE, &object->flags);
+
+	/* Permit __fscache_relinquish_cookie() to proceed */
+	clear_bit_unlock(FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING, &cookie->flags);
+	wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING);
 
 	_leave("");
 }
@@ -643,15 +569,18 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(fscache_obtained_object);
 /*
  * handle an object that has just become available
  */
-static void fscache_object_available(struct fscache_object *object)
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_object_available(struct fscache_object *object,
+							    int event)
 {
-	_enter("{OBJ%x}", object->debug_id);
+	struct fscache_cookie *cookie = object->cookie;
+
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
+
+	object->oob_table = fscache_osm_run_oob;
 
 	spin_lock(&object->lock);
 
-	if (object->cookie &&
-	    test_and_clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING, &object->cookie->flags))
-		wake_up_bit(&object->cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING);
+	ASSERTIF(cookie, !test_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING, &object->cookie->flags));
 
 	fscache_done_parent_op(object);
 	if (object->n_in_progress == 0) {
@@ -667,72 +596,117 @@ static void fscache_object_available(struct fscache_object *object)
 	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_lookup_complete);
 	object->cache->ops->lookup_complete(object);
 	fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_lookup_complete);
-	fscache_enqueue_dependents(object);
 
 	fscache_hist(fscache_obj_instantiate_histogram, object->lookup_jif);
 	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_object_avail);
 
 	_leave("");
+	return transit_to(JUMPSTART_DEPS);
 }
 
 /*
- * drop an object's attachments
+ * Wake up this object's dependent objects now that we've become available.
  */
-static void fscache_drop_object(struct fscache_object *object)
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_jumpstart_dependents(struct fscache_object *object,
+								int event)
 {
-	struct fscache_object *parent = object->parent;
-	struct fscache_cache *cache = object->cache;
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
 
-	_enter("{OBJ%x,%d}", object->debug_id, object->n_children);
+	if (!fscache_enqueue_dependents(object, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_PARENT_READY))
+		return NO_TRANSIT; /* Not finished; requeue */
+	return transit_to(WAIT_FOR_CMD);
+}
 
-	ASSERTCMP(object->cookie, ==, NULL);
-	ASSERT(hlist_unhashed(&object->cookie_link));
+/*
+ * Handle lookup or creation failute.
+ */
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_lookup_failure(struct fscache_object *object,
+							  int event)
+{
+	struct fscache_cookie *cookie;
+	bool wake_looking_up = false;
 
-	spin_lock(&cache->object_list_lock);
-	list_del_init(&object->cache_link);
-	spin_unlock(&cache->object_list_lock);
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
 
-	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_drop_object);
-	cache->ops->drop_object(object);
-	fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_drop_object);
+	object->oob_event_mask = 0;
 
-	if (parent) {
-		_debug("release parent OBJ%x {%d}",
-		       parent->debug_id, parent->n_children);
+	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_lookup_complete);
+	object->cache->ops->lookup_complete(object);
+	fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_lookup_complete);
 
-		spin_lock(&parent->lock);
-		parent->n_children--;
-		if (parent->n_children == 0)
-			fscache_raise_event(parent, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED);
-		spin_unlock(&parent->lock);
-		object->parent = NULL;
+	spin_lock(&object->lock);
+	cookie = object->cookie;
+	set_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_UNAVAILABLE, &cookie->flags);
+	if (cookie) {
+		if (test_and_clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP, &cookie->flags))
+			wake_looking_up = true;
+		clear_bit_unlock(FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING, &cookie->flags);
 	}
+	spin_unlock(&object->lock);
 
-	/* this just shifts the object release to the work processor */
-	fscache_put_object(object);
+	if (wake_looking_up)
+		wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP);
+	wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING);
 
-	_leave("");
+	fscache_done_parent_op(object);
+	return transit_to(KILL_OBJECT);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Wait for completion of all active operations on this object and the death of
+ * all child objects of this object.
+ */
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_kill_object(struct fscache_object *object,
+						       int event)
+{
+	_enter("{OBJ%x,%d,%d},%d",
+	       object->debug_id, object->n_ops, object->n_children, event);
+
+	object->oob_event_mask = 0;
+
+	spin_lock(&object->lock);
+	clear_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LIVE, &object->flags);
+	spin_unlock(&object->lock);
+
+	if (list_empty(&object->dependents) &&
+	    object->n_ops == 0 &&
+	    object->n_children == 0)
+		return object->cookie ?
+			transit_to(DETACH_FROM_COOKIE) : transit_to(DROP_OBJECT);
+
+	spin_lock(&object->lock);
+	fscache_start_operations(object);
+	spin_unlock(&object->lock);
+
+	if (!list_empty(&object->dependents))
+		return transit_to(KILL_DEPENDENTS);
+
+	return transit_to(WAIT_FOR_CLEARANCE);
 }
 
 /*
- * release or recycle an object that the netfs has discarded
+ * Kill dependent objects.
  */
-static void fscache_release_object(struct fscache_object *object)
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_kill_dependents(struct fscache_object *object,
+							   int event)
 {
-	_enter("");
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
 
-	fscache_drop_object(object);
+	if (!fscache_enqueue_dependents(object, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_KILL))
+		return NO_TRANSIT; /* Not finished */
+	return transit_to(WAIT_FOR_CLEARANCE);
 }
 
 /*
  * withdraw an object from active service
  */
-static void fscache_withdraw_object(struct fscache_object *object)
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_detach_from_cookie(struct fscache_object *object,
+							      int event)
 {
 	struct fscache_cookie *cookie;
-	bool detached;
+	bool detached = false, awaken = false;
 
-	_enter("");
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
 
 	spin_lock(&object->lock);
 	cookie = object->cookie;
@@ -742,14 +716,15 @@ static void fscache_withdraw_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 		atomic_inc(&cookie->usage);
 		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
 
-		detached = false;
 		spin_lock(&cookie->lock);
 		spin_lock(&object->lock);
 
 		if (object->cookie == cookie) {
 			hlist_del_init(&object->cookie_link);
 			object->cookie = NULL;
-			fscache_invalidation_complete(cookie);
+			if (test_and_clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_INVALIDATING,
+					       &cookie->flags))
+				awaken = true;
 			detached = true;
 		}
 		spin_unlock(&cookie->lock);
@@ -760,37 +735,62 @@ static void fscache_withdraw_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 
 	spin_unlock(&object->lock);
 
-	fscache_drop_object(object);
+	if (awaken)
+		wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_INVALIDATING);
+
+	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_object_dead);
+	_leave("");
+	return transit_to(DROP_OBJECT);
 }
 
 /*
- * withdraw an object from active service at the behest of the cache
- * - need break the links to a cached object cookie
- * - called under two situations:
- *   (1) recycler decides to reclaim an in-use object
- *   (2) a cache is unmounted
- * - have to take care as the cookie can be being relinquished by the netfs
- *   simultaneously
- * - the object is pinned by the caller holding a refcount on it
- */
-void fscache_withdrawing_object(struct fscache_cache *cache,
-				struct fscache_object *object)
+ * Drop an object's attachments
+ */
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_drop_object(struct fscache_object *object,
+						       int event)
 {
-	bool enqueue = false;
+	struct fscache_object *parent = object->parent;
+	struct fscache_cache *cache = object->cache;
 
-	_enter(",OBJ%x", object->debug_id);
+	_enter("{OBJ%x,%d},%d", object->debug_id, object->n_children, event);
 
+	ASSERTCMP(object->cookie, ==, NULL);
+	ASSERT(hlist_unhashed(&object->cookie_link));
+
+	/* Prevent a race with our last child, which has to signal EV_CLEARED
+	 * before dropping our spinlock.
+	 */
 	spin_lock(&object->lock);
-	if (object->state < FSCACHE_OBJECT_WITHDRAWING) {
-		object->state = FSCACHE_OBJECT_WITHDRAWING;
-		enqueue = true;
-	}
 	spin_unlock(&object->lock);
 
-	if (enqueue)
-		fscache_enqueue_object(object);
+	/* Discard from the cache's collection of objects */
+	spin_lock(&cache->object_list_lock);
+	list_del_init(&object->cache_link);
+	spin_unlock(&cache->object_list_lock);
+
+	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_drop_object);
+	cache->ops->drop_object(object);
+	fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_drop_object);
+
+	/* The parent object wants to know when all it dependents have gone */
+	if (parent) {
+		_debug("release parent OBJ%x {%d}",
+		       parent->debug_id, parent->n_children);
+
+		spin_lock(&parent->lock);
+		parent->n_children--;
+		if (parent->n_children == 0)
+			fscache_raise_event(parent, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED);
+		spin_unlock(&parent->lock);
+		object->parent = NULL;
+	}
+
+	/* this just shifts the object release to the work processor */
+	fscache_put_object(object);
+	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_object_dead);
 
 	_leave("");
+	return transit_to(OBJECT_DEAD);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ static int fscache_get_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 }
 
 /*
- * discard a ref on a work item
+ * Discard a ref on an object
  */
 static void fscache_put_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 {
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ void fscache_enqueue_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 
 /**
  * fscache_object_sleep_till_congested - Sleep until object wq is congested
- * @timoutp: Scheduler sleep timeout
+ * @timeoutp: Scheduler sleep timeout
  *
  * Allow an object handler to sleep until the object workqueue is congested.
  *
@@ -867,18 +867,21 @@ bool fscache_object_sleep_till_congested(signed long *timeoutp)
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(fscache_object_sleep_till_congested);
 
 /*
- * enqueue the dependents of an object for metadata-type processing
- * - the caller must hold the object's lock
- * - this may cause an already locked object to wind up being processed again
+ * Enqueue the dependents of an object for metadata-type processing.
+ *
+ * If we don't manage to finish the list before the scheduler wants to run
+ * again then return false immediately.  We return true if the list was
+ * cleared.
  */
-static void fscache_enqueue_dependents(struct fscache_object *object)
+static bool fscache_enqueue_dependents(struct fscache_object *object, int event)
 {
 	struct fscache_object *dep;
+	bool ret = true;
 
 	_enter("{OBJ%x}", object->debug_id);
 
 	if (list_empty(&object->dependents))
-		return;
+		return true;
 
 	spin_lock(&object->lock);
 
@@ -887,23 +890,23 @@ static void fscache_enqueue_dependents(struct fscache_object *object)
 				 struct fscache_object, dep_link);
 		list_del_init(&dep->dep_link);
 
-
-		/* sort onto appropriate lists */
-		fscache_enqueue_object(dep);
+		fscache_raise_event(dep, event);
 		fscache_put_object(dep);
 
-		if (!list_empty(&object->dependents))
-			cond_resched_lock(&object->lock);
+		if (!list_empty(&object->dependents) && need_resched()) {
+			ret = false;
+			break;
+		}
 	}
 
 	spin_unlock(&object->lock);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /*
  * remove an object from whatever queue it's waiting on
- * - the caller must hold object->lock
  */
-void fscache_dequeue_object(struct fscache_object *object)
+static void fscache_dequeue_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 {
 	_enter("{OBJ%x}", object->debug_id);
 
@@ -963,12 +966,14 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(fscache_check_aux);
 /*
  * Asynchronously invalidate an object.
  */
-static void fscache_invalidate_object(struct fscache_object *object)
+static const struct fscache_state *_fscache_invalidate_object(struct fscache_object *object,
+							      int event)
 {
 	struct fscache_operation *op;
 	struct fscache_cookie *cookie = object->cookie;
 
-	_enter("{OBJ%x}", object->debug_id);
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
+
 
 	/* Reject any new read/write ops and abort any that are pending. */
 	fscache_invalidate_writes(cookie);
@@ -978,9 +983,9 @@ static void fscache_invalidate_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 	/* Now we have to wait for in-progress reads and writes */
 	op = kzalloc(sizeof(*op), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!op) {
-		fscache_raise_event(object, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR);
+		clear_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LIVE, &object->flags);
 		_leave(" [ENOMEM]");
-		return;
+		return transit_to(KILL_OBJECT);
 	}
 
 	fscache_operation_init(op, object->cache->ops->invalidate_object, NULL);
@@ -1001,13 +1006,44 @@ static void fscache_invalidate_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 	/* We can allow read and write requests to come in once again.  They'll
 	 * queue up behind our exclusive invalidation operation.
 	 */
-	fscache_invalidation_complete(cookie);
-	_leave("");
-	return;
+	if (test_and_clear_bit(FSCACHE_COOKIE_INVALIDATING, &cookie->flags))
+		wake_up_bit(&cookie->flags, FSCACHE_COOKIE_INVALIDATING);
+	_leave(" [ok]");
+	return transit_to(UPDATE_OBJECT);
 
 submit_op_failed:
+	clear_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LIVE, &object->flags);
 	spin_unlock(&cookie->lock);
 	kfree(op);
-	fscache_raise_event(object, FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR);
 	_leave(" [EIO]");
+	return transit_to(KILL_OBJECT);
+}
+
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_invalidate_object(struct fscache_object *object,
+							     int event)
+{
+	const struct fscache_state *s;
+
+	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_invalidates_run);
+	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_invalidate_object);
+	s = _fscache_invalidate_object(object, event);
+	fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_invalidate_object);
+	return s;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Asynchronously update an object.
+ */
+static const struct fscache_state *fscache_update_object(struct fscache_object *object,
+							 int event)
+{
+	_enter("{OBJ%x},%d", object->debug_id, event);
+
+	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_updates_run);
+	fscache_stat(&fscache_n_cop_update_object);
+	object->cache->ops->update_object(object);
+	fscache_stat_d(&fscache_n_cop_update_object);
+
+	_leave("");
+	return transit_to(WAIT_FOR_CMD);
 }
diff --git a/fs/fscache/operation.c b/fs/fscache/operation.c
index ccf02194e7a686e9c16933eca99bea45044a093c..4da211b21ddf59316fd93f5b294eed57b18f4412 100644
--- a/fs/fscache/operation.c
+++ b/fs/fscache/operation.c
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ int fscache_submit_exclusive_op(struct fscache_object *object,
 		/* need to issue a new write op after this */
 		clear_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_PENDING_WRITE, &object->flags);
 		ret = 0;
-	} else if (object->state == FSCACHE_OBJECT_CREATING) {
+	} else if (test_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LOOKED_UP, &object->flags)) {
 		op->object = object;
 		object->n_ops++;
 		object->n_exclusive++;	/* reads and writes must wait */
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ int fscache_submit_exclusive_op(struct fscache_object *object,
  */
 static void fscache_report_unexpected_submission(struct fscache_object *object,
 						 struct fscache_operation *op,
-						 unsigned long ostate)
+						 const struct fscache_state *ostate)
 {
 	static bool once_only;
 	struct fscache_operation *p;
@@ -155,11 +155,8 @@ static void fscache_report_unexpected_submission(struct fscache_object *object,
 	once_only = true;
 
 	kdebug("unexpected submission OP%x [OBJ%x %s]",
-	       op->debug_id, object->debug_id,
-	       fscache_object_states[object->state]);
-	kdebug("objstate=%s [%s]",
-	       fscache_object_states[object->state],
-	       fscache_object_states[ostate]);
+	       op->debug_id, object->debug_id, object->state->name);
+	kdebug("objstate=%s [%s]", object->state->name, ostate->name);
 	kdebug("objflags=%lx", object->flags);
 	kdebug("objevent=%lx [%lx]", object->events, object->event_mask);
 	kdebug("ops=%u inp=%u exc=%u",
@@ -190,7 +187,7 @@ static void fscache_report_unexpected_submission(struct fscache_object *object,
 int fscache_submit_op(struct fscache_object *object,
 		      struct fscache_operation *op)
 {
-	unsigned long ostate;
+	const struct fscache_state *ostate;
 	int ret;
 
 	_enter("{OBJ%x OP%x},{%u}",
@@ -226,16 +223,14 @@ int fscache_submit_op(struct fscache_object *object,
 			fscache_run_op(object, op);
 		}
 		ret = 0;
-	} else if (object->state == FSCACHE_OBJECT_CREATING) {
+	} else if (test_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LOOKED_UP, &object->flags)) {
 		op->object = object;
 		object->n_ops++;
 		atomic_inc(&op->usage);
 		list_add_tail(&op->pend_link, &object->pending_ops);
 		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_op_pend);
 		ret = 0;
-	} else if (object->state == FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING ||
-		   object->state == FSCACHE_OBJECT_LC_DYING ||
-		   object->state == FSCACHE_OBJECT_WITHDRAWING) {
+	} else if (fscache_object_is_dying(object)) {
 		fscache_stat(&fscache_n_op_rejected);
 		op->state = FSCACHE_OP_ST_CANCELLED;
 		ret = -ENOBUFS;
@@ -266,13 +261,14 @@ void fscache_abort_object(struct fscache_object *object)
 
 /*
  * jump start the operation processing on an object
- * - caller must hold object->lock
  */
 void fscache_start_operations(struct fscache_object *object)
 {
 	struct fscache_operation *op;
 	bool stop = false;
 
+	ASSERT(spin_is_locked(&object->lock));
+
 	while (!list_empty(&object->pending_ops) && !stop) {
 		op = list_entry(object->pending_ops.next,
 				struct fscache_operation, pend_link);
diff --git a/fs/fscache/page.c b/fs/fscache/page.c
index 42f8f2d8a197f2b67960729fcf522530406636d5..b4e4b424160af9d39e1c6dc08708b589629b617b 100644
--- a/fs/fscache/page.c
+++ b/fs/fscache/page.c
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ int __fscache_read_or_alloc_page(struct fscache_cookie *cookie,
 	object = hlist_entry(cookie->backing_objects.first,
 			     struct fscache_object, cookie_link);
 
-	ASSERTCMP(object->state, >, FSCACHE_OBJECT_LOOKING_UP);
+	ASSERT(test_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LOOKED_UP, &object->flags));
 
 	atomic_inc(&object->n_reads);
 	__set_bit(FSCACHE_OP_DEC_READ_CNT, &op->op.flags);
@@ -729,8 +729,9 @@ static void fscache_write_op(struct fscache_operation *_op)
 		 */
 		spin_unlock(&object->lock);
 		fscache_op_complete(&op->op, false);
-		_leave(" [cancel] op{f=%lx s=%u} obj{s=%u f=%lx}",
-		       _op->flags, _op->state, object->state, object->flags);
+		_leave(" [cancel] op{f=%lx s=%u} obj{s=%s f=%lx}",
+		       _op->flags, _op->state, object->state->short_name,
+		       object->flags);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -833,14 +834,12 @@ void fscache_invalidate_writes(struct fscache_cookie *cookie)
  *  (1) negative lookup, object not yet created (FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING is
  *      set)
  *
- *	(a) no writes yet (set FSCACHE_COOKIE_PENDING_FILL and queue deferred
- *	    fill op)
+ *	(a) no writes yet
  *
  *	(b) writes deferred till post-creation (mark page for writing and
  *	    return immediately)
  *
  *  (2) negative lookup, object created, initial fill being made from netfs
- *      (FSCACHE_COOKIE_INITIAL_FILL is set)
  *
  *	(a) fill point not yet reached this page (mark page for writing and
  *          return)
diff --git a/include/linux/fscache-cache.h b/include/linux/fscache-cache.h
index c5f92347cbf8ca165cf1d50b3445b777c86fb4f0..9ff516b1b9a0d36e2f8eeb5c5db25af01ea52feb 100644
--- a/include/linux/fscache-cache.h
+++ b/include/linux/fscache-cache.h
@@ -328,11 +328,9 @@ struct fscache_cookie {
 #define FSCACHE_COOKIE_LOOKING_UP	0	/* T if non-index cookie being looked up still */
 #define FSCACHE_COOKIE_CREATING		1	/* T if non-index object being created still */
 #define FSCACHE_COOKIE_NO_DATA_YET	2	/* T if new object with no cached data yet */
-#define FSCACHE_COOKIE_PENDING_FILL	3	/* T if pending initial fill on object */
-#define FSCACHE_COOKIE_FILLING		4	/* T if filling object incrementally */
-#define FSCACHE_COOKIE_UNAVAILABLE	5	/* T if cookie is unavailable (error, etc) */
-#define FSCACHE_COOKIE_WAITING_ON_READS	6	/* T if cookie is waiting on reads */
-#define FSCACHE_COOKIE_INVALIDATING	7	/* T if cookie is being invalidated */
+#define FSCACHE_COOKIE_UNAVAILABLE	3	/* T if cookie is unavailable (error, etc) */
+#define FSCACHE_COOKIE_WAITING_ON_READS	4	/* T if cookie is waiting on reads */
+#define FSCACHE_COOKIE_INVALIDATING	5	/* T if cookie is being invalidated */
 };
 
 extern struct fscache_cookie fscache_fsdef_index;
@@ -341,45 +339,40 @@ extern struct fscache_cookie fscache_fsdef_index;
  * Event list for fscache_object::{event_mask,events}
  */
 enum {
-	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_REQUEUE,	/* T if object should be requeued */
+	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_NEW_CHILD,	/* T if object has a new child */
+	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_PARENT_READY,	/* T if object's parent is ready */
 	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_UPDATE,	/* T if object should be updated */
 	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_INVALIDATE,	/* T if cache requested object invalidation */
 	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_CLEARED,	/* T if accessors all gone */
 	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_ERROR,	/* T if fatal error occurred during processing */
-	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RELEASE,	/* T if netfs requested object release */
-	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_RETIRE,	/* T if netfs requested object retirement */
-	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_WITHDRAW,	/* T if cache requested object withdrawal */
+	FSCACHE_OBJECT_EV_KILL,		/* T if netfs relinquished or cache withdrew object */
 	NR_FSCACHE_OBJECT_EVENTS
 };
 
 #define FSCACHE_OBJECT_EVENTS_MASK ((1UL << NR_FSCACHE_OBJECT_EVENTS) - 1)
 
+/*
+ * States for object state machine.
+ */
+struct fscache_transition {
+	unsigned long events;
+	const struct fscache_state *transit_to;
+};
+
+struct fscache_state {
+	char name[24];
+	char short_name[8];
+	const struct fscache_state *(*work)(struct fscache_object *object,
+					    int event);
+	const struct fscache_transition transitions[];
+};
+
 /*
  * on-disk cache file or index handle
  */
 struct fscache_object {
-	enum fscache_object_state {
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_INIT,		/* object in initial unbound state */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_LOOKING_UP,	/* looking up object */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_CREATING,	/* creating object */
-
-		/* active states */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_AVAILABLE,	/* cleaning up object after creation */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_ACTIVE,		/* object is usable */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_INVALIDATING,	/* object is invalidating */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_UPDATING,	/* object is updating */
-
-		/* terminal states */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING,		/* object waiting for accessors to finish */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_LC_DYING,	/* object cleaning up after lookup/create */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_ABORT_INIT,	/* abort the init state */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_RELEASING,	/* releasing object */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_RECYCLING,	/* retiring object */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_WITHDRAWING,	/* withdrawing object */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT_DEAD,		/* object is now dead */
-		FSCACHE_OBJECT__NSTATES
-	} state;
-
+	const struct fscache_state *state;	/* Object state machine state */
+	const struct fscache_transition *oob_table; /* OOB state transition table */
 	int			debug_id;	/* debugging ID */
 	int			n_children;	/* number of child objects */
 	int			n_ops;		/* number of extant ops on object */
@@ -390,6 +383,7 @@ struct fscache_object {
 	spinlock_t		lock;		/* state and operations lock */
 
 	unsigned long		lookup_jif;	/* time at which lookup started */
+	unsigned long		oob_event_mask;	/* OOB events this object is interested in */
 	unsigned long		event_mask;	/* events this object is interested in */
 	unsigned long		events;		/* events to be processed by this object
 						 * (order is important - using fls) */
@@ -398,6 +392,10 @@ struct fscache_object {
 #define FSCACHE_OBJECT_LOCK		0	/* T if object is busy being processed */
 #define FSCACHE_OBJECT_PENDING_WRITE	1	/* T if object has pending write */
 #define FSCACHE_OBJECT_WAITING		2	/* T if object is waiting on its parent */
+#define FSCACHE_OBJECT_RETIRE		3	/* T if object should be retired */
+#define FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LIVE		4	/* T if object is not withdrawn or relinquished */
+#define FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LOOKED_UP	5	/* T if object has been looked up */
+#define FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_AVAILABLE	6	/* T if object has become active */
 
 	struct list_head	cache_link;	/* link in cache->object_list */
 	struct hlist_node	cookie_link;	/* link in cookie->backing_objects */
@@ -415,8 +413,6 @@ struct fscache_object {
 	loff_t			store_limit_l;	/* current storage limit */
 };
 
-extern const char *fscache_object_states[];
-
 extern void fscache_object_init(struct fscache_object *, struct fscache_cookie *,
 				struct fscache_cache *);
 
@@ -431,7 +427,7 @@ extern void fscache_object_destroy(struct fscache_object *object);
 
 static inline bool fscache_object_is_live(struct fscache_object *object)
 {
-	return object->state < FSCACHE_OBJECT_DYING;
+	return test_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_LIVE, &object->flags);
 }
 
 static inline bool fscache_object_is_dying(struct fscache_object *object)
@@ -441,7 +437,7 @@ static inline bool fscache_object_is_dying(struct fscache_object *object)
 
 static inline bool fscache_object_is_available(struct fscache_object *object)
 {
-	return object->state >= FSCACHE_OBJECT_AVAILABLE;
+	return test_bit(FSCACHE_OBJECT_IS_AVAILABLE, &object->flags);
 }
 
 static inline bool fscache_object_is_active(struct fscache_object *object)