diff --git a/fs/jbd/checkpoint.c b/fs/jbd/checkpoint.c
index 47552d4a6324..0f69c416eebc 100644
--- a/fs/jbd/checkpoint.c
+++ b/fs/jbd/checkpoint.c
@@ -602,15 +602,15 @@ int __journal_remove_checkpoint(struct journal_head *jh)
 
 	/*
 	 * There is one special case to worry about: if we have just pulled the
-	 * buffer off a committing transaction's forget list, then even if the
-	 * checkpoint list is empty, the transaction obviously cannot be
-	 * dropped!
+	 * buffer off a running or committing transaction's checkpoing list,
+	 * then even if the checkpoint list is empty, the transaction obviously
+	 * cannot be dropped!
 	 *
-	 * The locking here around j_committing_transaction is a bit sleazy.
+	 * The locking here around t_state is a bit sleazy.
 	 * See the comment at the end of journal_commit_transaction().
 	 */
-	if (transaction == journal->j_committing_transaction) {
-		JBUFFER_TRACE(jh, "belongs to committing transaction");
+	if (transaction->t_state != T_FINISHED) {
+		JBUFFER_TRACE(jh, "belongs to running/committing transaction");
 		goto out;
 	}
 
diff --git a/fs/jbd/commit.c b/fs/jbd/commit.c
index 8f1f2aa5fb39..610264b99a8e 100644
--- a/fs/jbd/commit.c
+++ b/fs/jbd/commit.c
@@ -858,10 +858,10 @@ void journal_commit_transaction(journal_t *journal)
 	}
 	spin_unlock(&journal->j_list_lock);
 	/*
-	 * This is a bit sleazy.  We borrow j_list_lock to protect
-	 * journal->j_committing_transaction in __journal_remove_checkpoint.
-	 * Really, __journal_remove_checkpoint should be using j_state_lock but
-	 * it's a bit hassle to hold that across __journal_remove_checkpoint
+	 * This is a bit sleazy.  We use j_list_lock to protect transition
+	 * of a transaction into T_FINISHED state and calling
+	 * __journal_drop_transaction(). Otherwise we could race with
+	 * other checkpointing code processing the transaction...
 	 */
 	spin_lock(&journal->j_state_lock);
 	spin_lock(&journal->j_list_lock);
diff --git a/include/linux/jbd.h b/include/linux/jbd.h
index 16e7ed855a18..d9ecd13393b0 100644
--- a/include/linux/jbd.h
+++ b/include/linux/jbd.h
@@ -439,6 +439,8 @@ struct transaction_s
 	/*
 	 * Transaction's current state
 	 * [no locking - only kjournald alters this]
+	 * [j_list_lock] guards transition of a transaction into T_FINISHED
+	 * state and subsequent call of __journal_drop_transaction()
 	 * FIXME: needs barriers
 	 * KLUDGE: [use j_state_lock]
 	 */