diff --git a/drivers/char/briq_panel.c b/drivers/char/briq_panel.c
index b6f2639f903d344754f211f12e7e630759e2861a..d8cff909001c1e4cbd68c8aa22f08eb70d08bbdb 100644
--- a/drivers/char/briq_panel.c
+++ b/drivers/char/briq_panel.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/module.h>
 
+#include <linux/smp_lock.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/errno.h>
 #include <linux/tty.h>
@@ -67,11 +68,15 @@ static void set_led(char state)
 
 static int briq_panel_open(struct inode *ino, struct file *filep)
 {
-	/* enforce single access */
-	if (vfd_is_open)
+	lock_kernel();
+	/* enforce single access, vfd_is_open is protected by BKL */
+	if (vfd_is_open) {
+		unlock_kernel();
 		return -EBUSY;
+	}
 	vfd_is_open = 1;
 
+	unlock_kernel();
 	return 0;
 }