diff --git a/include/linux/sunrpc/bc_xprt.h b/include/linux/sunrpc/bc_xprt.h
index d7152b451e21..7c91260c44a9 100644
--- a/include/linux/sunrpc/bc_xprt.h
+++ b/include/linux/sunrpc/bc_xprt.h
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ struct rpc_rqst *xprt_alloc_bc_request(struct rpc_xprt *xprt);
 void xprt_free_bc_request(struct rpc_rqst *req);
 int xprt_setup_backchannel(struct rpc_xprt *, unsigned int min_reqs);
 void xprt_destroy_backchannel(struct rpc_xprt *, int max_reqs);
-void bc_release_request(struct rpc_task *);
 int bc_send(struct rpc_rqst *req);
 
 /*
@@ -59,6 +58,10 @@ static inline int svc_is_backchannel(const struct svc_rqst *rqstp)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
+
+static inline void xprt_free_bc_request(struct rpc_rqst *req)
+{
+}
 #endif /* CONFIG_NFS_V4_1 */
 #endif /* _LINUX_SUNRPC_BC_XPRT_H */
 
diff --git a/net/sunrpc/bc_svc.c b/net/sunrpc/bc_svc.c
index 13f214f53120..f0c05d3311c1 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/bc_svc.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/bc_svc.c
@@ -37,21 +37,6 @@ SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
 #define RPCDBG_FACILITY	RPCDBG_SVCDSP
 
-void bc_release_request(struct rpc_task *task)
-{
-	struct rpc_rqst *req = task->tk_rqstp;
-
-	dprintk("RPC:       bc_release_request: task= %p\n", task);
-
-	/*
-	 * Release this request only if it's a backchannel
-	 * preallocated request
-	 */
-	if (!bc_prealloc(req))
-		return;
-	xprt_free_bc_request(req);
-}
-
 /* Empty callback ops */
 static const struct rpc_call_ops nfs41_callback_ops = {
 };
diff --git a/net/sunrpc/xprt.c b/net/sunrpc/xprt.c
index 469de292c23c..42f09ade0044 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/xprt.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/xprt.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/sunrpc/clnt.h>
 #include <linux/sunrpc/metrics.h>
+#include <linux/sunrpc/bc_xprt.h>
 
 #include "sunrpc.h"
 
@@ -1032,21 +1033,16 @@ void xprt_release(struct rpc_task *task)
 	if (req->rq_release_snd_buf)
 		req->rq_release_snd_buf(req);
 
-	/*
-	 * Early exit if this is a backchannel preallocated request.
-	 * There is no need to have it added to the RPC slot list.
-	 */
-	if (is_bc_request)
-		return;
-
-	memset(req, 0, sizeof(*req));	/* mark unused */
-
 	dprintk("RPC: %5u release request %p\n", task->tk_pid, req);
+	if (likely(!is_bc_request)) {
+		memset(req, 0, sizeof(*req));	/* mark unused */
 
-	spin_lock(&xprt->reserve_lock);
-	list_add(&req->rq_list, &xprt->free);
-	rpc_wake_up_next(&xprt->backlog);
-	spin_unlock(&xprt->reserve_lock);
+		spin_lock(&xprt->reserve_lock);
+		list_add(&req->rq_list, &xprt->free);
+		rpc_wake_up_next(&xprt->backlog);
+		spin_unlock(&xprt->reserve_lock);
+	} else
+		xprt_free_bc_request(req);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/net/sunrpc/xprtsock.c b/net/sunrpc/xprtsock.c
index e4839c07c913..9847c30b5001 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/xprtsock.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/xprtsock.c
@@ -2251,9 +2251,6 @@ static struct rpc_xprt_ops xs_tcp_ops = {
 	.buf_free		= rpc_free,
 	.send_request		= xs_tcp_send_request,
 	.set_retrans_timeout	= xprt_set_retrans_timeout_def,
-#if defined(CONFIG_NFS_V4_1)
-	.release_request	= bc_release_request,
-#endif /* CONFIG_NFS_V4_1 */
 	.close			= xs_tcp_close,
 	.destroy		= xs_destroy,
 	.print_stats		= xs_tcp_print_stats,