diff --git a/rdwr.c b/rdwr.c
index c0f3da3..87f81d3 100644
--- a/rdwr.c
+++ b/rdwr.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ static int cachefiles_read_waiter(wait_queue_t *wait, unsigned mode,
 	struct cachefiles_object *object;
 	struct wait_bit_key *key = _key;
 	struct page *page = wait->private;
-
+	struct fscache_retrieval *op = monitor->op;
 	ASSERT(key);
 
 	_enter("{%lu},%u,%d,{%p,%u}",
@@ -56,11 +56,20 @@ static int cachefiles_read_waiter(wait_queue_t *wait, unsigned mode,
 	object = container_of(monitor->op->op.object,
 			      struct cachefiles_object, fscache);
 
+        /* bump the usage, because cachefiles_read_copier can free the
+         * op once monitor is enqueued on the op->to_do list even before
+         * the op is  enqueued on the fscache_op_wq
+         */
+        fscache_get_retrieval(op);
 	spin_lock(&object->work_lock);
 	list_add_tail(&monitor->op_link, &monitor->op->to_do);
 	spin_unlock(&object->work_lock);
-
-	fscache_enqueue_retrieval(monitor->op);
+        /* monitor can be freed after its enqueued and we leave the lock *
+         * alternatively we could enqueue under the object_work lock,
+         *  but that would have more serialization.
+         */
+	fscache_enqueue_retrieval(op);
+        fscache_put_retrieval(op);
 	return 0;
 }