diff --git a/fs/driver/fs_registerblockdriver.c b/fs/driver/fs_registerblockdriver.c
index 63bedb73f60eb..6c9308e407fa0 100644
--- a/fs/driver/fs_registerblockdriver.c
+++ b/fs/driver/fs_registerblockdriver.c
@@ -74,12 +74,7 @@ int register_blockdriver(FAR const char *path,
    * valid data.
    */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      return ret;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = inode_reserve(path, mode, &node);
   if (ret >= 0)
     {
diff --git a/fs/driver/fs_registerdriver.c b/fs/driver/fs_registerdriver.c
index b3db8b9bdef3c..d7bdb43f23ddd 100644
--- a/fs/driver/fs_registerdriver.c
+++ b/fs/driver/fs_registerdriver.c
@@ -73,12 +73,7 @@ int register_driver(FAR const char *path,
    * will have a momentarily bad structure.
    */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      return ret;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = inode_reserve(path, mode, &node);
   if (ret >= 0)
     {
diff --git a/fs/driver/fs_registermtddriver.c b/fs/driver/fs_registermtddriver.c
index 8eb76b13d939d..5d8cff872c5fa 100644
--- a/fs/driver/fs_registermtddriver.c
+++ b/fs/driver/fs_registermtddriver.c
@@ -74,12 +74,7 @@ int register_mtddriver(FAR const char *path, FAR struct mtd_dev_s *mtd,
    * valid data.
    */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      return ret;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = inode_reserve(path, mode, &node);
   if (ret >= 0)
     {
diff --git a/fs/driver/fs_registerpipedriver.c b/fs/driver/fs_registerpipedriver.c
index ed5f48d8a15ba..fccb484f2aa71 100644
--- a/fs/driver/fs_registerpipedriver.c
+++ b/fs/driver/fs_registerpipedriver.c
@@ -72,12 +72,7 @@ int register_pipedriver(FAR const char *path,
    * will have a momentarily bad structure.
    */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      return ret;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = inode_reserve(path, mode, &node);
   if (ret >= 0)
     {
diff --git a/fs/driver/fs_unregisterblockdriver.c b/fs/driver/fs_unregisterblockdriver.c
index 73cd6982b863d..22df0fed4f081 100644
--- a/fs/driver/fs_unregisterblockdriver.c
+++ b/fs/driver/fs_unregisterblockdriver.c
@@ -45,17 +45,11 @@ int unregister_blockdriver(FAR const char *path)
 {
   int ret;
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret >= 0)
-    {
-      ret = inode_remove(path);
-      inode_unlock();
+  inode_lock();
+  ret = inode_remove(path);
+  inode_unlock();
 #ifdef CONFIG_FS_NOTIFY
-      notify_unlink(path);
+  notify_unlink(path);
 #endif
-      return OK;
-    }
-
-  inode_unlock();
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/fs/driver/fs_unregisterdriver.c b/fs/driver/fs_unregisterdriver.c
index 9b40c1f63fbb8..0dca9584d2efe 100644
--- a/fs/driver/fs_unregisterdriver.c
+++ b/fs/driver/fs_unregisterdriver.c
@@ -55,17 +55,11 @@ int unregister_driver(FAR const char *path)
 
   /* If unlink failed, only remove inode. */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret >= 0)
-    {
-      ret = inode_remove(path);
-      inode_unlock();
+  inode_lock();
+  ret = inode_remove(path);
+  inode_unlock();
 #ifdef CONFIG_FS_NOTIFY
-      notify_unlink(path);
+  notify_unlink(path);
 #endif
-      return OK;
-    }
-
-  inode_unlock();
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/fs/driver/fs_unregistermtddriver.c b/fs/driver/fs_unregistermtddriver.c
index b99a46bc91cbb..724d569acb9d7 100644
--- a/fs/driver/fs_unregistermtddriver.c
+++ b/fs/driver/fs_unregistermtddriver.c
@@ -46,17 +46,11 @@ int unregister_mtddriver(FAR const char *path)
 {
   int ret;
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret >= 0)
-    {
-      ret = inode_remove(path);
-      inode_unlock();
+  inode_lock();
+  ret = inode_remove(path);
+  inode_unlock();
 #ifdef CONFIG_FS_NOTIFY
-      notify_unlink(path);
+  notify_unlink(path);
 #endif
-      return OK;
-    }
-
-  inode_unlock();
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/fs/driver/fs_unregisterpipedriver.c b/fs/driver/fs_unregisterpipedriver.c
index f29b90ae5884b..c89ce1b663c61 100644
--- a/fs/driver/fs_unregisterpipedriver.c
+++ b/fs/driver/fs_unregisterpipedriver.c
@@ -47,18 +47,12 @@ int unregister_pipedriver(FAR const char *path)
 {
   int ret;
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret >= 0)
-    {
-      ret = inode_remove(path);
-      inode_unlock();
+  inode_lock();
+  ret = inode_remove(path);
+  inode_unlock();
 #ifdef CONFIG_FS_NOTIFY
-      notify_unlink(path);
+  notify_unlink(path);
 #endif
-      return OK;
-    }
-
-  inode_unlock();
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_foreachinode.c b/fs/inode/fs_foreachinode.c
index 0db28289b5fa5..7e9240d897b99 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_foreachinode.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_foreachinode.c
@@ -184,12 +184,9 @@ int foreach_inode(foreach_inode_t handler, FAR void *arg)
 
   /* Start the recursion at the root inode */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret >= 0)
-    {
-      ret = foreach_inodelevel(g_root_inode->i_child, info);
-      inode_unlock();
-    }
+  inode_rlock();
+  ret = foreach_inodelevel(g_root_inode->i_child, info);
+  inode_runlock();
 
   /* Free the info structure and return the result */
 
@@ -208,12 +205,9 @@ int foreach_inode(foreach_inode_t handler, FAR void *arg)
 
   /* Start the recursion at the root inode */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret >= 0)
-    {
-      ret = foreach_inodelevel(g_root_inode->i_child, &info);
-      inode_unlock();
-    }
+  inode_rlock();
+  ret = foreach_inodelevel(g_root_inode->i_child, &info);
+  inode_runlock();
 
   return ret;
 
diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_inode.c b/fs/inode/fs_inode.c
index 9fb5ace69e769..d2c392af7c2f9 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_inode.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_inode.c
@@ -22,14 +22,8 @@
  * Included Files
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#include <nuttx/config.h>
-
-#include <unistd.h>
-#include <assert.h>
-#include <errno.h>
-
 #include <nuttx/fs/fs.h>
-#include <nuttx/mutex.h>
+#include <nuttx/rwsem.h>
 
 #include "inode/inode.h"
 
@@ -45,7 +39,7 @@
  * Private Data
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-static rmutex_t g_inode_lock = NXRMUTEX_INITIALIZER;
+static rw_semaphore_t g_inode_lock = RWSEM_INITIALIZER;
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Public Functions
@@ -71,24 +65,50 @@ void inode_initialize(void)
  * Name: inode_lock
  *
  * Description:
- *   Get exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree (g_inode_sem).
+ *   Get writeable exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+void inode_lock(void)
+{
+  down_write(&g_inode_lock);
+}
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: inode_rlock
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Get readable exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree.
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int inode_lock(void)
+void inode_rlock(void)
 {
-  return nxrmutex_lock(&g_inode_lock);
+  down_read(&g_inode_lock);
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: inode_unlock
  *
  * Description:
- *   Relinquish exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree (g_inode_sem).
+ *   Relinquish writeable exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree.
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 void inode_unlock(void)
 {
-  DEBUGVERIFY(nxrmutex_unlock(&g_inode_lock));
+  up_write(&g_inode_lock);
+}
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: inode_runlock
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Relinquish read exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+void inode_runlock(void)
+{
+  up_read(&g_inode_lock);
 }
diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_inodeaddref.c b/fs/inode/fs_inodeaddref.c
index 9187a8fae0d81..af3dacd59ba21 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_inodeaddref.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_inodeaddref.c
@@ -43,12 +43,10 @@
 
 int inode_addref(FAR struct inode *inode)
 {
-  int ret = OK;
-
   if (inode)
     {
       atomic_fetch_add(&inode->i_crefs, 1);
     }
 
-  return ret;
+  return OK;
 }
diff --git a/fs/inode/fs_inodefind.c b/fs/inode/fs_inodefind.c
index 47fe84df95275..71044c67a8f71 100644
--- a/fs/inode/fs_inodefind.c
+++ b/fs/inode/fs_inodefind.c
@@ -55,12 +55,7 @@ int inode_find(FAR struct inode_search_s *desc)
    * references on the node.
    */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      return ret;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = inode_search(desc);
   if (ret >= 0)
     {
diff --git a/fs/inode/inode.h b/fs/inode/inode.h
index aa92bb27c2508..e6aa04ac18fd8 100644
--- a/fs/inode/inode.h
+++ b/fs/inode/inode.h
@@ -170,22 +170,42 @@ void inode_initialize(void);
  * Name: inode_lock
  *
  * Description:
- *   Get exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree (tree_sem).
+ *   Get writeable exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree.
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-int inode_lock(void);
+void inode_lock(void);
+
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: inode_rlock
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Get readable exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+void inode_rlock(void);
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: inode_unlock
  *
  * Description:
- *   Relinquish exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree (tree_sem).
+ *   Relinquish writeable exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree.
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 void inode_unlock(void);
 
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: inode_runlock
+ *
+ * Description:
+ *   Relinquish read exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+void inode_runlock(void);
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: inode_search
  *
diff --git a/fs/mount/fs_automount.c b/fs/mount/fs_automount.c
index d3aaaa1980d1d..eed0dba999fe7 100644
--- a/fs/mount/fs_automount.c
+++ b/fs/mount/fs_automount.c
@@ -401,11 +401,7 @@ static int automount_findinode(FAR const char *path)
 
   /* Get exclusive access to the in-memory inode tree. */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      return ret;
-    }
+  inode_rlock();
 
   /* Find the inode */
 
@@ -439,7 +435,7 @@ static int automount_findinode(FAR const char *path)
 
   /* Relinquish our exclusive access to the inode try and return the result */
 
-  inode_unlock();
+  inode_runlock();
   RELEASE_SEARCH(&desc);
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/fs/mount/fs_mount.c b/fs/mount/fs_mount.c
index a23fdc364f4e3..1cf0fc155fe2c 100644
--- a/fs/mount/fs_mount.c
+++ b/fs/mount/fs_mount.c
@@ -367,12 +367,7 @@ int nx_mount(FAR const char *source, FAR const char *target,
       goto errout;
     }
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      goto errout_with_inode;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
 #ifndef CONFIG_DISABLE_PSEUDOFS_OPERATIONS
   /* Check if the inode already exists */
 
@@ -462,7 +457,7 @@ int nx_mount(FAR const char *source, FAR const char *target,
 #else
   ret = mops->bind(NULL, data, &fshandle);
 #endif
-  DEBUGVERIFY(inode_lock() >= 0);
+  inode_lock();
   if (ret < 0)
     {
       /* The inode is unhappy with the driver for some reason.  Back out
diff --git a/fs/mount/fs_umount2.c b/fs/mount/fs_umount2.c
index 76ee449ece854..632f85d4ae77b 100644
--- a/fs/mount/fs_umount2.c
+++ b/fs/mount/fs_umount2.c
@@ -110,12 +110,7 @@ int nx_umount2(FAR const char *target, unsigned int flags)
 
   /* Hold the semaphore through the unbind logic */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      goto errout_with_mountpt;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = mountpt_inode->u.i_mops->unbind(mountpt_inode->i_private,
                                        &blkdrvr_inode, flags);
   if (ret < 0)
diff --git a/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c b/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c
index 84d14545587b0..73eb895c19670 100644
--- a/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c
+++ b/fs/mqueue/mq_open.c
@@ -285,12 +285,7 @@ static int file_mq_vopen(FAR struct file *mq, FAR const char *mq_name,
 
       /* Create an inode in the pseudo-filesystem at this path */
 
-      ret = inode_lock();
-      if (ret < 0)
-        {
-          goto errout_with_lock;
-        }
-
+      inode_lock();
       ret = inode_reserve(fullpath, mode, &inode);
       inode_unlock();
 
diff --git a/fs/mqueue/mq_unlink.c b/fs/mqueue/mq_unlink.c
index d6a1c14e58dea..271fb213c9b4f 100644
--- a/fs/mqueue/mq_unlink.c
+++ b/fs/mqueue/mq_unlink.c
@@ -137,12 +137,7 @@ int file_mq_unlink(FAR const char *mq_name)
    * functioning as a directory and the directory is not empty.
    */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      goto errout_with_inode;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   if (inode->i_child != NULL)
     {
       ret = -ENOTEMPTY;
diff --git a/fs/semaphore/sem_open.c b/fs/semaphore/sem_open.c
index 406244b31d05c..e063000895403 100644
--- a/fs/semaphore/sem_open.c
+++ b/fs/semaphore/sem_open.c
@@ -178,12 +178,7 @@ int nxsem_open(FAR sem_t **sem, FAR const char *name, int oflags, ...)
        * inode will be created with a reference count of zero.
        */
 
-      ret = inode_lock();
-      if (ret < 0)
-        {
-          goto errout_with_lock;
-        }
-
+      inode_lock();
       ret = inode_reserve(fullpath, mode, &inode);
       inode_unlock();
 
diff --git a/fs/semaphore/sem_unlink.c b/fs/semaphore/sem_unlink.c
index 74ff982ea9aea..ff92a1a9c9297 100644
--- a/fs/semaphore/sem_unlink.c
+++ b/fs/semaphore/sem_unlink.c
@@ -102,12 +102,7 @@ int nxsem_unlink(FAR const char *name)
    * functioning as a directory and the directory is not empty.
    */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      goto errout_with_inode;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   if (inode->i_child != NULL)
     {
       ret = -ENOTEMPTY;
diff --git a/fs/shm/shm_open.c b/fs/shm/shm_open.c
index cf980497e74b0..431ba2e0b7477 100644
--- a/fs/shm/shm_open.c
+++ b/fs/shm/shm_open.c
@@ -81,12 +81,7 @@ static int file_shm_open(FAR struct file *shm, FAR const char *name,
 
   SETUP_SEARCH(&desc, fullpath, false);
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      goto errout_with_search;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = inode_find(&desc);
   if (ret >= 0)
     {
@@ -148,7 +143,6 @@ static int file_shm_open(FAR struct file *shm, FAR const char *name,
 
 errout_with_sem:
   inode_unlock();
-errout_with_search:
   RELEASE_SEARCH(&desc);
 #ifdef CONFIG_FS_NOTIFY
   if (ret >= 0)
diff --git a/fs/shm/shm_unlink.c b/fs/shm/shm_unlink.c
index c35235cacdb1f..84ac6a9bc79b4 100644
--- a/fs/shm/shm_unlink.c
+++ b/fs/shm/shm_unlink.c
@@ -77,12 +77,7 @@ static int file_shm_unlink(FAR const char *name)
 
   SETUP_SEARCH(&desc, fullpath, false);
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      goto errout_with_search;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = inode_find(&desc);
   if (ret < 0)
     {
@@ -139,7 +134,6 @@ static int file_shm_unlink(FAR const char *name)
   inode_release(inode);
 errout_with_sem:
   inode_unlock();
-errout_with_search:
   RELEASE_SEARCH(&desc);
 #ifdef CONFIG_FS_NOTIFY
   if (ret >= 0)
diff --git a/fs/shm/shmfs.c b/fs/shm/shmfs.c
index cf826302c5264..69f321cb65e3e 100644
--- a/fs/shm/shmfs.c
+++ b/fs/shm/shmfs.c
@@ -215,18 +215,19 @@ static int shmfs_close(FAR struct file *filep)
 static int shmfs_truncate(FAR struct file *filep, off_t length)
 {
   FAR struct shmfs_object_s *object;
-  int ret;
+  int ret = 0;
 
   if (length == 0)
     {
       return -EINVAL;
     }
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret >= 0)
+  inode_lock();
+  object = filep->f_inode->i_private;
+  if (!object)
     {
-      object = filep->f_inode->i_private;
-      if (!object)
+      filep->f_inode->i_private = shmfs_alloc_object(length);
+      if (!filep->f_inode->i_private)
         {
           filep->f_inode->i_private = shmfs_alloc_object(length);
           if (!filep->f_inode->i_private)
@@ -239,16 +240,15 @@ static int shmfs_truncate(FAR struct file *filep, off_t length)
               filep->f_inode->i_size = length;
             }
         }
-      else if (object->length != length)
-        {
-          /* This doesn't support resize */
-
-          ret = -EINVAL;
-        }
+    }
+  else if (object->length != length)
+    {
+      /* This doesn't support resize */
 
-      inode_unlock();
+      ret = -EINVAL;
     }
 
+  inode_unlock();
   return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_mkdir.c b/fs/vfs/fs_mkdir.c
index a5464bdb9bc6b..db8e1a42799d9 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_mkdir.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_mkdir.c
@@ -139,13 +139,7 @@ int mkdir(const char *pathname, mode_t mode)
        * count of zero.
        */
 
-      ret = inode_lock();
-      if (ret < 0)
-        {
-          errcode = -ret;
-          goto errout_with_search;
-        }
-
+      inode_lock();
       ret = inode_reserve(pathname, mode, &inode);
       inode_unlock();
 
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_pseudofile.c b/fs/vfs/fs_pseudofile.c
index c600fab724b57..c7a747cd8d94a 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_pseudofile.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_pseudofile.c
@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@ static int pseudofile_munmap(FAR struct task_group_s *group,
                              size_t length)
 {
   FAR struct inode *inode = (FAR struct inode *)map->priv.p;
+  int ret = OK;
 
   /* If the file has been unlinked previously, delete the contents.
    * The inode is released after this call, hence checking if i_crefs <= 1.
@@ -367,6 +368,8 @@ static int pseudofile_munmap(FAR struct task_group_s *group,
       ret = OK;
     }
 
+  inode_unlock();
+
   /* Unkeep the inode when unmapped, decrease refcount */
 
   if (ret == OK)
@@ -483,12 +486,7 @@ int pseudofile_create(FAR struct inode **node, FAR const char *path,
 
   nxmutex_init(&pf->lock);
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      goto lock_err;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = inode_reserve(path, mode, node);
   if (ret < 0)
     {
@@ -507,7 +505,6 @@ int pseudofile_create(FAR struct inode **node, FAR const char *path,
 
 reserve_err:
   inode_unlock();
-lock_err:
   nxmutex_destroy(&pf->lock);
   fs_heap_free(pf);
   return ret;
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_rename.c b/fs/vfs/fs_rename.c
index 72ff4638464dd..f67dd7000705e 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_rename.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_rename.c
@@ -177,12 +177,7 @@ static int pseudorename(FAR const char *oldpath, FAR struct inode *oldinode,
    * of  zero.
    */
 
-  ret = inode_lock();
-  if (ret < 0)
-    {
-      goto errout;
-    }
-
+  inode_lock();
   ret = inode_reserve(newpath, 0777, &newinode);
   if (ret < 0)
     {
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_rmdir.c b/fs/vfs/fs_rmdir.c
index d144d6c624f87..4a8d1eb5773d0 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_rmdir.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_rmdir.c
@@ -134,13 +134,7 @@ int rmdir(FAR const char *pathname)
        * -EBUSY to indicate that the inode was not deleted now.
        */
 
-      ret = inode_lock();
-      if (ret < 0)
-        {
-          errcode = -ret;
-          goto errout_with_inode;
-        }
-
+      inode_lock();
       ret = inode_remove(pathname);
       inode_unlock();
 
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_symlink.c b/fs/vfs/fs_symlink.c
index 9c6de4f994f3a..e0b21b3819b58 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_symlink.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_symlink.c
@@ -141,17 +141,9 @@ int symlink(FAR const char *path1, FAR const char *path2)
        * count of zero.
        */
 
-      ret = inode_lock();
-      if (ret < 0)
-        {
-          lib_free(newpath2);
-          errcode = -ret;
-          goto errout_with_search;
-        }
-
+      inode_lock();
       ret = inode_reserve(path2, 0777, &inode);
       inode_unlock();
-
       if (ret < 0)
         {
           lib_free(newpath2);
diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_unlink.c b/fs/vfs/fs_unlink.c
index b68b4da60df87..998ab7083160c 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_unlink.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_unlink.c
@@ -171,12 +171,7 @@ int nx_unlink(FAR const char *pathname)
        * return -EBUSY to indicate that the inode was not deleted now.
        */
 
-      ret = inode_lock();
-      if (ret < 0)
-        {
-          goto errout_with_inode;
-        }
-
+      inode_lock();
       ret = inode_remove(pathname);
       inode_unlock();