diff --git a/fs/pipe.c b/fs/pipe.c
index 4eb88bc138bb..2667db9506e2 100644
--- a/fs/pipe.c
+++ b/fs/pipe.c
@@ -253,7 +253,8 @@ pipe_read(struct kiocb *iocb, struct iov_iter *to)
 	 */
 	was_full = pipe_full(pipe->head, pipe->tail, pipe->max_usage);
 	for (;;) {
-		unsigned int head = pipe->head;
+		/* Read ->head with a barrier vs post_one_notification() */
+		unsigned int head = smp_load_acquire(&pipe->head);
 		unsigned int tail = pipe->tail;
 		unsigned int mask = pipe->ring_size - 1;
 
diff --git a/kernel/watch_queue.c b/kernel/watch_queue.c
index c12267ccc70e..37bcd900fd77 100644
--- a/kernel/watch_queue.c
+++ b/kernel/watch_queue.c
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ static bool post_one_notification(struct watch_queue *wqueue,
 	buf->offset = offset;
 	buf->len = len;
 	buf->flags = PIPE_BUF_FLAG_WHOLE;
-	pipe->head = head + 1;
+	smp_store_release(&pipe->head, head + 1); /* vs pipe_read() */
 
 	if (!test_and_clear_bit(note, wqueue->notes_bitmap)) {
 		spin_unlock_irq(&pipe->rd_wait.lock);