diff --git a/fs/notify/dnotify/dnotify.c b/fs/notify/dnotify/dnotify.c
index 1fedd5f7ccc4..bfca53dbbf34 100644
--- a/fs/notify/dnotify/dnotify.c
+++ b/fs/notify/dnotify/dnotify.c
@@ -82,21 +82,20 @@ static void dnotify_recalc_inode_mask(struct fsnotify_mark *fsn_mark)
  * events.
  */
 static int dnotify_handle_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+				struct inode *inode,
 				struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
 				struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmount_mark,
-				struct fsnotify_event *event)
+				u32 mask, void *data, int data_type,
+				const unsigned char *file_name)
 {
 	struct dnotify_mark *dn_mark;
-	struct inode *to_tell;
 	struct dnotify_struct *dn;
 	struct dnotify_struct **prev;
 	struct fown_struct *fown;
-	__u32 test_mask = event->mask & ~FS_EVENT_ON_CHILD;
+	__u32 test_mask = mask & ~FS_EVENT_ON_CHILD;
 
 	BUG_ON(vfsmount_mark);
 
-	to_tell = event->to_tell;
-
 	dn_mark = container_of(inode_mark, struct dnotify_mark, fsn_mark);
 
 	spin_lock(&inode_mark->lock);
@@ -155,7 +154,7 @@ static struct fsnotify_ops dnotify_fsnotify_ops = {
 	.should_send_event = dnotify_should_send_event,
 	.free_group_priv = NULL,
 	.freeing_mark = NULL,
-	.free_event_priv = NULL,
+	.free_event = NULL,
 };
 
 /*
diff --git a/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify.c b/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify.c
index 0c2f9122b262..c26268d7bd9d 100644
--- a/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify.c
+++ b/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify.c
@@ -9,31 +9,27 @@
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/wait.h>
 
-static bool should_merge(struct fsnotify_event *old, struct fsnotify_event *new)
-{
-	pr_debug("%s: old=%p new=%p\n", __func__, old, new);
+#include "fanotify.h"
+
+static bool should_merge(struct fsnotify_event *old_fsn,
+			 struct fsnotify_event *new_fsn)
+{
+	struct fanotify_event_info *old, *new;
 
-	if (old->to_tell == new->to_tell &&
-	    old->data_type == new->data_type &&
-	    old->tgid == new->tgid) {
-		switch (old->data_type) {
-		case (FSNOTIFY_EVENT_PATH):
 #ifdef CONFIG_FANOTIFY_ACCESS_PERMISSIONS
-			/* dont merge two permission events */
-			if ((old->mask & FAN_ALL_PERM_EVENTS) &&
-			    (new->mask & FAN_ALL_PERM_EVENTS))
-				return false;
+	/* dont merge two permission events */
+	if ((old_fsn->mask & FAN_ALL_PERM_EVENTS) &&
+	    (new_fsn->mask & FAN_ALL_PERM_EVENTS))
+		return false;
 #endif
-			if ((old->path.mnt == new->path.mnt) &&
-			    (old->path.dentry == new->path.dentry))
-				return true;
-			break;
-		case (FSNOTIFY_EVENT_NONE):
-			return true;
-		default:
-			BUG();
-		};
-	}
+	pr_debug("%s: old=%p new=%p\n", __func__, old_fsn, new_fsn);
+	old = FANOTIFY_E(old_fsn);
+	new = FANOTIFY_E(new_fsn);
+
+	if (old_fsn->inode == new_fsn->inode && old->tgid == new->tgid &&
+	    old->path.mnt == new->path.mnt &&
+	    old->path.dentry == new->path.dentry)
+		return true;
 	return false;
 }
 
@@ -41,59 +37,28 @@ static bool should_merge(struct fsnotify_event *old, struct fsnotify_event *new)
 static struct fsnotify_event *fanotify_merge(struct list_head *list,
 					     struct fsnotify_event *event)
 {
-	struct fsnotify_event_holder *test_holder;
-	struct fsnotify_event *test_event = NULL;
-	struct fsnotify_event *new_event;
+	struct fsnotify_event *test_event;
+	bool do_merge = false;
 
 	pr_debug("%s: list=%p event=%p\n", __func__, list, event);
 
-
-	list_for_each_entry_reverse(test_holder, list, event_list) {
-		if (should_merge(test_holder->event, event)) {
-			test_event = test_holder->event;
+	list_for_each_entry_reverse(test_event, list, list) {
+		if (should_merge(test_event, event)) {
+			do_merge = true;
 			break;
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!test_event)
+	if (!do_merge)
 		return NULL;
 
-	fsnotify_get_event(test_event);
-
-	/* if they are exactly the same we are done */
-	if (test_event->mask == event->mask)
-		return test_event;
-
-	/*
-	 * if the refcnt == 2 this is the only queue
-	 * for this event and so we can update the mask
-	 * in place.
-	 */
-	if (atomic_read(&test_event->refcnt) == 2) {
-		test_event->mask |= event->mask;
-		return test_event;
-	}
-
-	new_event = fsnotify_clone_event(test_event);
-
-	/* done with test_event */
-	fsnotify_put_event(test_event);
-
-	/* couldn't allocate memory, merge was not possible */
-	if (unlikely(!new_event))
-		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
-
-	/* build new event and replace it on the list */
-	new_event->mask = (test_event->mask | event->mask);
-	fsnotify_replace_event(test_holder, new_event);
-
-	/* we hold a reference on new_event from clone_event */
-	return new_event;
+	test_event->mask |= event->mask;
+	return test_event;
 }
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_FANOTIFY_ACCESS_PERMISSIONS
 static int fanotify_get_response_from_access(struct fsnotify_group *group,
-					     struct fsnotify_event *event)
+					     struct fanotify_event_info *event)
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -106,7 +71,6 @@ static int fanotify_get_response_from_access(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 		return 0;
 
 	/* userspace responded, convert to something usable */
-	spin_lock(&event->lock);
 	switch (event->response) {
 	case FAN_ALLOW:
 		ret = 0;
@@ -116,7 +80,6 @@ static int fanotify_get_response_from_access(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 		ret = -EPERM;
 	}
 	event->response = 0;
-	spin_unlock(&event->lock);
 
 	pr_debug("%s: group=%p event=%p about to return ret=%d\n", __func__,
 		 group, event, ret);
@@ -125,48 +88,8 @@ static int fanotify_get_response_from_access(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 }
 #endif
 
-static int fanotify_handle_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
-				 struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
-				 struct fsnotify_mark *fanotify_mark,
-				 struct fsnotify_event *event)
-{
-	int ret = 0;
-	struct fsnotify_event *notify_event = NULL;
-
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_ACCESS != FS_ACCESS);
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_MODIFY != FS_MODIFY);
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_CLOSE_NOWRITE != FS_CLOSE_NOWRITE);
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_CLOSE_WRITE != FS_CLOSE_WRITE);
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_OPEN != FS_OPEN);
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_EVENT_ON_CHILD != FS_EVENT_ON_CHILD);
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_Q_OVERFLOW != FS_Q_OVERFLOW);
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_OPEN_PERM != FS_OPEN_PERM);
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_ACCESS_PERM != FS_ACCESS_PERM);
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_ONDIR != FS_ISDIR);
-
-	pr_debug("%s: group=%p event=%p\n", __func__, group, event);
-
-	notify_event = fsnotify_add_notify_event(group, event, NULL, fanotify_merge);
-	if (IS_ERR(notify_event))
-		return PTR_ERR(notify_event);
-
-#ifdef CONFIG_FANOTIFY_ACCESS_PERMISSIONS
-	if (event->mask & FAN_ALL_PERM_EVENTS) {
-		/* if we merged we need to wait on the new event */
-		if (notify_event)
-			event = notify_event;
-		ret = fanotify_get_response_from_access(group, event);
-	}
-#endif
-
-	if (notify_event)
-		fsnotify_put_event(notify_event);
-
-	return ret;
-}
-
 static bool fanotify_should_send_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
-				       struct inode *to_tell,
+				       struct inode *inode,
 				       struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
 				       struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmnt_mark,
 				       __u32 event_mask, void *data, int data_type)
@@ -174,8 +97,8 @@ static bool fanotify_should_send_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 	__u32 marks_mask, marks_ignored_mask;
 	struct path *path = data;
 
-	pr_debug("%s: group=%p to_tell=%p inode_mark=%p vfsmnt_mark=%p "
-		 "mask=%x data=%p data_type=%d\n", __func__, group, to_tell,
+	pr_debug("%s: group=%p inode=%p inode_mark=%p vfsmnt_mark=%p "
+		 "mask=%x data=%p data_type=%d\n", __func__, group, inode,
 		 inode_mark, vfsmnt_mark, event_mask, data, data_type);
 
 	/* if we don't have enough info to send an event to userspace say no */
@@ -217,6 +140,70 @@ static bool fanotify_should_send_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 	return false;
 }
 
+static int fanotify_handle_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+				 struct inode *inode,
+				 struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
+				 struct fsnotify_mark *fanotify_mark,
+				 u32 mask, void *data, int data_type,
+				 const unsigned char *file_name)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	struct fanotify_event_info *event;
+	struct fsnotify_event *fsn_event;
+	struct fsnotify_event *notify_fsn_event;
+
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_ACCESS != FS_ACCESS);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_MODIFY != FS_MODIFY);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_CLOSE_NOWRITE != FS_CLOSE_NOWRITE);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_CLOSE_WRITE != FS_CLOSE_WRITE);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_OPEN != FS_OPEN);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_EVENT_ON_CHILD != FS_EVENT_ON_CHILD);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_Q_OVERFLOW != FS_Q_OVERFLOW);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_OPEN_PERM != FS_OPEN_PERM);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_ACCESS_PERM != FS_ACCESS_PERM);
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(FAN_ONDIR != FS_ISDIR);
+
+	pr_debug("%s: group=%p inode=%p mask=%x\n", __func__, group, inode,
+		 mask);
+
+	event = kmem_cache_alloc(fanotify_event_cachep, GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (unlikely(!event))
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	fsn_event = &event->fse;
+	fsnotify_init_event(fsn_event, inode, mask);
+	event->tgid = get_pid(task_tgid(current));
+	if (data_type == FSNOTIFY_EVENT_PATH) {
+		struct path *path = data;
+		event->path = *path;
+		path_get(&event->path);
+	} else {
+		event->path.mnt = NULL;
+		event->path.dentry = NULL;
+	}
+#ifdef CONFIG_FANOTIFY_ACCESS_PERMISSIONS
+	event->response = 0;
+#endif
+
+	notify_fsn_event = fsnotify_add_notify_event(group, fsn_event,
+						     fanotify_merge);
+	if (notify_fsn_event) {
+		/* Our event wasn't used in the end. Free it. */
+		fsnotify_destroy_event(group, fsn_event);
+		if (IS_ERR(notify_fsn_event))
+			return PTR_ERR(notify_fsn_event);
+		/* We need to ask about a different events after a merge... */
+		event = FANOTIFY_E(notify_fsn_event);
+		fsn_event = notify_fsn_event;
+	}
+
+#ifdef CONFIG_FANOTIFY_ACCESS_PERMISSIONS
+	if (fsn_event->mask & FAN_ALL_PERM_EVENTS)
+		ret = fanotify_get_response_from_access(group, event);
+#endif
+	return ret;
+}
+
 static void fanotify_free_group_priv(struct fsnotify_group *group)
 {
 	struct user_struct *user;
@@ -226,10 +213,20 @@ static void fanotify_free_group_priv(struct fsnotify_group *group)
 	free_uid(user);
 }
 
+static void fanotify_free_event(struct fsnotify_event *fsn_event)
+{
+	struct fanotify_event_info *event;
+
+	event = FANOTIFY_E(fsn_event);
+	path_put(&event->path);
+	put_pid(event->tgid);
+	kmem_cache_free(fanotify_event_cachep, event);
+}
+
 const struct fsnotify_ops fanotify_fsnotify_ops = {
 	.handle_event = fanotify_handle_event,
 	.should_send_event = fanotify_should_send_event,
 	.free_group_priv = fanotify_free_group_priv,
-	.free_event_priv = NULL,
+	.free_event = fanotify_free_event,
 	.freeing_mark = NULL,
 };
diff --git a/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify.h b/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0e90174a116a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify.h
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#include <linux/fsnotify_backend.h>
+#include <linux/path.h>
+#include <linux/slab.h>
+
+extern struct kmem_cache *fanotify_event_cachep;
+
+struct fanotify_event_info {
+	struct fsnotify_event fse;
+	/*
+	 * We hold ref to this path so it may be dereferenced at any point
+	 * during this object's lifetime
+	 */
+	struct path path;
+	struct pid *tgid;
+#ifdef CONFIG_FANOTIFY_ACCESS_PERMISSIONS
+	u32 response;	/* userspace answer to question */
+#endif
+};
+
+static inline struct fanotify_event_info *FANOTIFY_E(struct fsnotify_event *fse)
+{
+	return container_of(fse, struct fanotify_event_info, fse);
+}
diff --git a/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify_user.c b/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify_user.c
index e44cb6427df3..57d7c083cb4b 100644
--- a/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify_user.c
+++ b/fs/notify/fanotify/fanotify_user.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 #include "../../mount.h"
 #include "../fdinfo.h"
+#include "fanotify.h"
 
 #define FANOTIFY_DEFAULT_MAX_EVENTS	16384
 #define FANOTIFY_DEFAULT_MAX_MARKS	8192
@@ -28,11 +29,12 @@ extern const struct fsnotify_ops fanotify_fsnotify_ops;
 
 static struct kmem_cache *fanotify_mark_cache __read_mostly;
 static struct kmem_cache *fanotify_response_event_cache __read_mostly;
+struct kmem_cache *fanotify_event_cachep __read_mostly;
 
 struct fanotify_response_event {
 	struct list_head list;
 	__s32 fd;
-	struct fsnotify_event *event;
+	struct fanotify_event_info *event;
 };
 
 /*
@@ -61,8 +63,8 @@ static struct fsnotify_event *get_one_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 }
 
 static int create_fd(struct fsnotify_group *group,
-			struct fsnotify_event *event,
-			struct file **file)
+		     struct fanotify_event_info *event,
+		     struct file **file)
 {
 	int client_fd;
 	struct file *new_file;
@@ -73,12 +75,6 @@ static int create_fd(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 	if (client_fd < 0)
 		return client_fd;
 
-	if (event->data_type != FSNOTIFY_EVENT_PATH) {
-		WARN_ON(1);
-		put_unused_fd(client_fd);
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * we need a new file handle for the userspace program so it can read even if it was
 	 * originally opened O_WRONLY.
@@ -109,23 +105,25 @@ static int create_fd(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 }
 
 static int fill_event_metadata(struct fsnotify_group *group,
-				   struct fanotify_event_metadata *metadata,
-				   struct fsnotify_event *event,
-				   struct file **file)
+			       struct fanotify_event_metadata *metadata,
+			       struct fsnotify_event *fsn_event,
+			       struct file **file)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
+	struct fanotify_event_info *event;
 
 	pr_debug("%s: group=%p metadata=%p event=%p\n", __func__,
-		 group, metadata, event);
+		 group, metadata, fsn_event);
 
 	*file = NULL;
+	event = container_of(fsn_event, struct fanotify_event_info, fse);
 	metadata->event_len = FAN_EVENT_METADATA_LEN;
 	metadata->metadata_len = FAN_EVENT_METADATA_LEN;
 	metadata->vers = FANOTIFY_METADATA_VERSION;
 	metadata->reserved = 0;
-	metadata->mask = event->mask & FAN_ALL_OUTGOING_EVENTS;
+	metadata->mask = fsn_event->mask & FAN_ALL_OUTGOING_EVENTS;
 	metadata->pid = pid_vnr(event->tgid);
-	if (unlikely(event->mask & FAN_Q_OVERFLOW))
+	if (unlikely(fsn_event->mask & FAN_Q_OVERFLOW))
 		metadata->fd = FAN_NOFD;
 	else {
 		metadata->fd = create_fd(group, event, file);
@@ -209,7 +207,7 @@ static int prepare_for_access_response(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 	if (!re)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	re->event = event;
+	re->event = FANOTIFY_E(event);
 	re->fd = fd;
 
 	mutex_lock(&group->fanotify_data.access_mutex);
@@ -217,7 +215,7 @@ static int prepare_for_access_response(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 	if (atomic_read(&group->fanotify_data.bypass_perm)) {
 		mutex_unlock(&group->fanotify_data.access_mutex);
 		kmem_cache_free(fanotify_response_event_cache, re);
-		event->response = FAN_ALLOW;
+		FANOTIFY_E(event)->response = FAN_ALLOW;
 		return 0;
 	}
 		
@@ -273,7 +271,7 @@ static ssize_t copy_event_to_user(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 out:
 #ifdef CONFIG_FANOTIFY_ACCESS_PERMISSIONS
 	if (event->mask & FAN_ALL_PERM_EVENTS) {
-		event->response = FAN_DENY;
+		FANOTIFY_E(event)->response = FAN_DENY;
 		wake_up(&group->fanotify_data.access_waitq);
 	}
 #endif
@@ -321,7 +319,7 @@ static ssize_t fanotify_read(struct file *file, char __user *buf,
 			if (IS_ERR(kevent))
 				break;
 			ret = copy_event_to_user(group, kevent, buf);
-			fsnotify_put_event(kevent);
+			fsnotify_destroy_event(group, kevent);
 			if (ret < 0)
 				break;
 			buf += ret;
@@ -409,7 +407,7 @@ static int fanotify_release(struct inode *ignored, struct file *file)
 static long fanotify_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 {
 	struct fsnotify_group *group;
-	struct fsnotify_event_holder *holder;
+	struct fsnotify_event *fsn_event;
 	void __user *p;
 	int ret = -ENOTTY;
 	size_t send_len = 0;
@@ -421,7 +419,7 @@ static long fanotify_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned long ar
 	switch (cmd) {
 	case FIONREAD:
 		mutex_lock(&group->notification_mutex);
-		list_for_each_entry(holder, &group->notification_list, event_list)
+		list_for_each_entry(fsn_event, &group->notification_list, list)
 			send_len += FAN_EVENT_METADATA_LEN;
 		mutex_unlock(&group->notification_mutex);
 		ret = put_user(send_len, (int __user *) p);
@@ -906,6 +904,7 @@ static int __init fanotify_user_setup(void)
 	fanotify_mark_cache = KMEM_CACHE(fsnotify_mark, SLAB_PANIC);
 	fanotify_response_event_cache = KMEM_CACHE(fanotify_response_event,
 						   SLAB_PANIC);
+	fanotify_event_cachep = KMEM_CACHE(fanotify_event_info, SLAB_PANIC);
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/fs/notify/fsnotify.c b/fs/notify/fsnotify.c
index 4bb21d67d9b1..7c754c91c3f6 100644
--- a/fs/notify/fsnotify.c
+++ b/fs/notify/fsnotify.c
@@ -128,8 +128,7 @@ static int send_to_group(struct inode *to_tell,
 			 struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmount_mark,
 			 __u32 mask, void *data,
 			 int data_is, u32 cookie,
-			 const unsigned char *file_name,
-			 struct fsnotify_event **event)
+			 const unsigned char *file_name)
 {
 	struct fsnotify_group *group = NULL;
 	__u32 inode_test_mask = 0;
@@ -170,10 +169,10 @@ static int send_to_group(struct inode *to_tell,
 
 	pr_debug("%s: group=%p to_tell=%p mask=%x inode_mark=%p"
 		 " inode_test_mask=%x vfsmount_mark=%p vfsmount_test_mask=%x"
-		 " data=%p data_is=%d cookie=%d event=%p\n",
+		 " data=%p data_is=%d cookie=%d\n",
 		 __func__, group, to_tell, mask, inode_mark,
 		 inode_test_mask, vfsmount_mark, vfsmount_test_mask, data,
-		 data_is, cookie, *event);
+		 data_is, cookie);
 
 	if (!inode_test_mask && !vfsmount_test_mask)
 		return 0;
@@ -183,14 +182,9 @@ static int send_to_group(struct inode *to_tell,
 					  data_is) == false)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (!*event) {
-		*event = fsnotify_create_event(to_tell, mask, data,
-						data_is, file_name,
-						cookie, GFP_KERNEL);
-		if (!*event)
-			return -ENOMEM;
-	}
-	return group->ops->handle_event(group, inode_mark, vfsmount_mark, *event);
+	return group->ops->handle_event(group, to_tell, inode_mark,
+					vfsmount_mark, mask, data, data_is,
+					file_name);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -205,7 +199,6 @@ int fsnotify(struct inode *to_tell, __u32 mask, void *data, int data_is,
 	struct hlist_node *inode_node = NULL, *vfsmount_node = NULL;
 	struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark = NULL, *vfsmount_mark = NULL;
 	struct fsnotify_group *inode_group, *vfsmount_group;
-	struct fsnotify_event *event = NULL;
 	struct mount *mnt;
 	int idx, ret = 0;
 	/* global tests shouldn't care about events on child only the specific event */
@@ -258,18 +251,18 @@ int fsnotify(struct inode *to_tell, __u32 mask, void *data, int data_is,
 
 		if (inode_group > vfsmount_group) {
 			/* handle inode */
-			ret = send_to_group(to_tell, inode_mark, NULL, mask, data,
-					    data_is, cookie, file_name, &event);
+			ret = send_to_group(to_tell, inode_mark, NULL, mask,
+					    data, data_is, cookie, file_name);
 			/* we didn't use the vfsmount_mark */
 			vfsmount_group = NULL;
 		} else if (vfsmount_group > inode_group) {
-			ret = send_to_group(to_tell, NULL, vfsmount_mark, mask, data,
-					    data_is, cookie, file_name, &event);
+			ret = send_to_group(to_tell, NULL, vfsmount_mark, mask,
+					    data, data_is, cookie, file_name);
 			inode_group = NULL;
 		} else {
 			ret = send_to_group(to_tell, inode_mark, vfsmount_mark,
-					    mask, data, data_is, cookie, file_name,
-					    &event);
+					    mask, data, data_is, cookie,
+					    file_name);
 		}
 
 		if (ret && (mask & ALL_FSNOTIFY_PERM_EVENTS))
@@ -285,12 +278,6 @@ int fsnotify(struct inode *to_tell, __u32 mask, void *data, int data_is,
 	ret = 0;
 out:
 	srcu_read_unlock(&fsnotify_mark_srcu, idx);
-	/*
-	 * fsnotify_create_event() took a reference so the event can't be cleaned
-	 * up while we are still trying to add it to lists, drop that one.
-	 */
-	if (event)
-		fsnotify_put_event(event);
 
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/fs/notify/group.c b/fs/notify/group.c
index bd2625bd88b4..ee674fe2cec7 100644
--- a/fs/notify/group.c
+++ b/fs/notify/group.c
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ struct fsnotify_group *fsnotify_alloc_group(const struct fsnotify_ops *ops)
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&group->marks_list);
 
 	group->ops = ops;
+	fsnotify_init_event(&group->overflow_event, NULL, FS_Q_OVERFLOW);
 
 	return group;
 }
diff --git a/fs/notify/inotify/inotify.h b/fs/notify/inotify/inotify.h
index b6642e4de4bf..485eef3f4407 100644
--- a/fs/notify/inotify/inotify.h
+++ b/fs/notify/inotify/inotify.h
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 #include <linux/inotify.h>
 #include <linux/slab.h> /* struct kmem_cache */
 
-extern struct kmem_cache *event_priv_cachep;
-
-struct inotify_event_private_data {
-	struct fsnotify_event_private_data fsnotify_event_priv_data;
+struct inotify_event_info {
+	struct fsnotify_event fse;
 	int wd;
+	u32 sync_cookie;
+	int name_len;
+	char name[];
 };
 
 struct inotify_inode_mark {
@@ -14,8 +15,18 @@ struct inotify_inode_mark {
 	int wd;
 };
 
+static inline struct inotify_event_info *INOTIFY_E(struct fsnotify_event *fse)
+{
+	return container_of(fse, struct inotify_event_info, fse);
+}
+
 extern void inotify_ignored_and_remove_idr(struct fsnotify_mark *fsn_mark,
 					   struct fsnotify_group *group);
-extern void inotify_free_event_priv(struct fsnotify_event_private_data *event_priv);
+extern int inotify_handle_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+				struct inode *inode,
+				struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
+				struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmount_mark,
+				u32 mask, void *data, int data_type,
+				const unsigned char *file_name);
 
 extern const struct fsnotify_ops inotify_fsnotify_ops;
diff --git a/fs/notify/inotify/inotify_fsnotify.c b/fs/notify/inotify/inotify_fsnotify.c
index 4216308b81b4..6fabbd163d16 100644
--- a/fs/notify/inotify/inotify_fsnotify.c
+++ b/fs/notify/inotify/inotify_fsnotify.c
@@ -34,100 +34,80 @@
 #include "inotify.h"
 
 /*
- * Check if 2 events contain the same information.  We do not compare private data
- * but at this moment that isn't a problem for any know fsnotify listeners.
+ * Check if 2 events contain the same information.
  */
-static bool event_compare(struct fsnotify_event *old, struct fsnotify_event *new)
+static bool event_compare(struct fsnotify_event *old_fsn,
+			  struct fsnotify_event *new_fsn)
 {
-	if ((old->mask == new->mask) &&
-	    (old->to_tell == new->to_tell) &&
-	    (old->data_type == new->data_type) &&
-	    (old->name_len == new->name_len)) {
-		switch (old->data_type) {
-		case (FSNOTIFY_EVENT_INODE):
-			/* remember, after old was put on the wait_q we aren't
-			 * allowed to look at the inode any more, only thing
-			 * left to check was if the file_name is the same */
-			if (!old->name_len ||
-			    !strcmp(old->file_name, new->file_name))
-				return true;
-			break;
-		case (FSNOTIFY_EVENT_PATH):
-			if ((old->path.mnt == new->path.mnt) &&
-			    (old->path.dentry == new->path.dentry))
-				return true;
-			break;
-		case (FSNOTIFY_EVENT_NONE):
-			if (old->mask & FS_Q_OVERFLOW)
-				return true;
-			else if (old->mask & FS_IN_IGNORED)
-				return false;
-			return true;
-		};
-	}
+	struct inotify_event_info *old, *new;
+
+	if (old_fsn->mask & FS_IN_IGNORED)
+		return false;
+	old = INOTIFY_E(old_fsn);
+	new = INOTIFY_E(new_fsn);
+	if ((old_fsn->mask == new_fsn->mask) &&
+	    (old_fsn->inode == new_fsn->inode) &&
+	    (old->name_len == new->name_len) &&
+	    (!old->name_len || !strcmp(old->name, new->name)))
+		return true;
 	return false;
 }
 
 static struct fsnotify_event *inotify_merge(struct list_head *list,
 					    struct fsnotify_event *event)
 {
-	struct fsnotify_event_holder *last_holder;
 	struct fsnotify_event *last_event;
 
-	/* and the list better be locked by something too */
-	spin_lock(&event->lock);
-
-	last_holder = list_entry(list->prev, struct fsnotify_event_holder, event_list);
-	last_event = last_holder->event;
-	if (event_compare(last_event, event))
-		fsnotify_get_event(last_event);
-	else
-		last_event = NULL;
-
-	spin_unlock(&event->lock);
-
+	last_event = list_entry(list->prev, struct fsnotify_event, list);
+	if (!event_compare(last_event, event))
+		return NULL;
 	return last_event;
 }
 
-static int inotify_handle_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
-				struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
-				struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmount_mark,
-				struct fsnotify_event *event)
+int inotify_handle_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+			 struct inode *inode,
+			 struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
+			 struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmount_mark,
+			 u32 mask, void *data, int data_type,
+			 const unsigned char *file_name)
 {
 	struct inotify_inode_mark *i_mark;
-	struct inode *to_tell;
-	struct inotify_event_private_data *event_priv;
-	struct fsnotify_event_private_data *fsn_event_priv;
+	struct inotify_event_info *event;
 	struct fsnotify_event *added_event;
-	int wd, ret = 0;
+	struct fsnotify_event *fsn_event;
+	int ret = 0;
+	int len = 0;
+	int alloc_len = sizeof(struct inotify_event_info);
 
 	BUG_ON(vfsmount_mark);
 
-	pr_debug("%s: group=%p event=%p to_tell=%p mask=%x\n", __func__, group,
-		 event, event->to_tell, event->mask);
+	if (file_name) {
+		len = strlen(file_name);
+		alloc_len += len + 1;
+	}
 
-	to_tell = event->to_tell;
+	pr_debug("%s: group=%p inode=%p mask=%x\n", __func__, group, inode,
+		 mask);
 
 	i_mark = container_of(inode_mark, struct inotify_inode_mark,
 			      fsn_mark);
-	wd = i_mark->wd;
 
-	event_priv = kmem_cache_alloc(event_priv_cachep, GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (unlikely(!event_priv))
+	event = kmalloc(alloc_len, GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (unlikely(!event))
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	fsn_event_priv = &event_priv->fsnotify_event_priv_data;
+	fsn_event = &event->fse;
+	fsnotify_init_event(fsn_event, inode, mask);
+	event->wd = i_mark->wd;
+	event->name_len = len;
+	if (len)
+		strcpy(event->name, file_name);
 
-	fsnotify_get_group(group);
-	fsn_event_priv->group = group;
-	event_priv->wd = wd;
-
-	added_event = fsnotify_add_notify_event(group, event, fsn_event_priv, inotify_merge);
+	added_event = fsnotify_add_notify_event(group, fsn_event, inotify_merge);
 	if (added_event) {
-		inotify_free_event_priv(fsn_event_priv);
-		if (!IS_ERR(added_event))
-			fsnotify_put_event(added_event);
-		else
+		/* Our event wasn't used in the end. Free it. */
+		fsnotify_destroy_event(group, fsn_event);
+		if (IS_ERR(added_event))
 			ret = PTR_ERR(added_event);
 	}
 
@@ -202,22 +182,15 @@ static void inotify_free_group_priv(struct fsnotify_group *group)
 	free_uid(group->inotify_data.user);
 }
 
-void inotify_free_event_priv(struct fsnotify_event_private_data *fsn_event_priv)
+static void inotify_free_event(struct fsnotify_event *fsn_event)
 {
-	struct inotify_event_private_data *event_priv;
-
-
-	event_priv = container_of(fsn_event_priv, struct inotify_event_private_data,
-				  fsnotify_event_priv_data);
-
-	fsnotify_put_group(fsn_event_priv->group);
-	kmem_cache_free(event_priv_cachep, event_priv);
+	kfree(INOTIFY_E(fsn_event));
 }
 
 const struct fsnotify_ops inotify_fsnotify_ops = {
 	.handle_event = inotify_handle_event,
 	.should_send_event = inotify_should_send_event,
 	.free_group_priv = inotify_free_group_priv,
-	.free_event_priv = inotify_free_event_priv,
+	.free_event = inotify_free_event,
 	.freeing_mark = inotify_freeing_mark,
 };
diff --git a/fs/notify/inotify/inotify_user.c b/fs/notify/inotify/inotify_user.c
index 1bb6dc8eaf1c..497395c8274b 100644
--- a/fs/notify/inotify/inotify_user.c
+++ b/fs/notify/inotify/inotify_user.c
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ static int inotify_max_queued_events __read_mostly;
 static int inotify_max_user_watches __read_mostly;
 
 static struct kmem_cache *inotify_inode_mark_cachep __read_mostly;
-struct kmem_cache *event_priv_cachep __read_mostly;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SYSCTL
 
@@ -124,8 +123,11 @@ static unsigned int inotify_poll(struct file *file, poll_table *wait)
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int round_event_name_len(struct fsnotify_event *event)
+static int round_event_name_len(struct fsnotify_event *fsn_event)
 {
+	struct inotify_event_info *event;
+
+	event = INOTIFY_E(fsn_event);
 	if (!event->name_len)
 		return 0;
 	return roundup(event->name_len + 1, sizeof(struct inotify_event));
@@ -169,40 +171,27 @@ static struct fsnotify_event *get_one_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
  * buffer we had in "get_one_event()" above.
  */
 static ssize_t copy_event_to_user(struct fsnotify_group *group,
-				  struct fsnotify_event *event,
+				  struct fsnotify_event *fsn_event,
 				  char __user *buf)
 {
 	struct inotify_event inotify_event;
-	struct fsnotify_event_private_data *fsn_priv;
-	struct inotify_event_private_data *priv;
+	struct inotify_event_info *event;
 	size_t event_size = sizeof(struct inotify_event);
 	size_t name_len;
 	size_t pad_name_len;
 
-	pr_debug("%s: group=%p event=%p\n", __func__, group, event);
-
-	/* we get the inotify watch descriptor from the event private data */
-	spin_lock(&event->lock);
-	fsn_priv = fsnotify_remove_priv_from_event(group, event);
-	spin_unlock(&event->lock);
-
-	if (!fsn_priv)
-		inotify_event.wd = -1;
-	else {
-		priv = container_of(fsn_priv, struct inotify_event_private_data,
-				    fsnotify_event_priv_data);
-		inotify_event.wd = priv->wd;
-		inotify_free_event_priv(fsn_priv);
-	}
+	pr_debug("%s: group=%p event=%p\n", __func__, group, fsn_event);
 
+	event = INOTIFY_E(fsn_event);
 	name_len = event->name_len;
 	/*
 	 * round up name length so it is a multiple of event_size
 	 * plus an extra byte for the terminating '\0'.
 	 */
-	pad_name_len = round_event_name_len(event);
+	pad_name_len = round_event_name_len(fsn_event);
 	inotify_event.len = pad_name_len;
-	inotify_event.mask = inotify_mask_to_arg(event->mask);
+	inotify_event.mask = inotify_mask_to_arg(fsn_event->mask);
+	inotify_event.wd = event->wd;
 	inotify_event.cookie = event->sync_cookie;
 
 	/* send the main event */
@@ -218,7 +207,7 @@ static ssize_t copy_event_to_user(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 	 */
 	if (pad_name_len) {
 		/* copy the path name */
-		if (copy_to_user(buf, event->file_name, name_len))
+		if (copy_to_user(buf, event->name, name_len))
 			return -EFAULT;
 		buf += name_len;
 
@@ -257,7 +246,7 @@ static ssize_t inotify_read(struct file *file, char __user *buf,
 			if (IS_ERR(kevent))
 				break;
 			ret = copy_event_to_user(group, kevent, buf);
-			fsnotify_put_event(kevent);
+			fsnotify_destroy_event(group, kevent);
 			if (ret < 0)
 				break;
 			buf += ret;
@@ -300,8 +289,7 @@ static long inotify_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd,
 			  unsigned long arg)
 {
 	struct fsnotify_group *group;
-	struct fsnotify_event_holder *holder;
-	struct fsnotify_event *event;
+	struct fsnotify_event *fsn_event;
 	void __user *p;
 	int ret = -ENOTTY;
 	size_t send_len = 0;
@@ -314,10 +302,10 @@ static long inotify_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd,
 	switch (cmd) {
 	case FIONREAD:
 		mutex_lock(&group->notification_mutex);
-		list_for_each_entry(holder, &group->notification_list, event_list) {
-			event = holder->event;
+		list_for_each_entry(fsn_event, &group->notification_list,
+				    list) {
 			send_len += sizeof(struct inotify_event);
-			send_len += round_event_name_len(event);
+			send_len += round_event_name_len(fsn_event);
 		}
 		mutex_unlock(&group->notification_mutex);
 		ret = put_user(send_len, (int __user *) p);
@@ -504,43 +492,12 @@ void inotify_ignored_and_remove_idr(struct fsnotify_mark *fsn_mark,
 				    struct fsnotify_group *group)
 {
 	struct inotify_inode_mark *i_mark;
-	struct fsnotify_event *ignored_event, *notify_event;
-	struct inotify_event_private_data *event_priv;
-	struct fsnotify_event_private_data *fsn_event_priv;
-	int ret;
+
+	/* Queue ignore event for the watch */
+	inotify_handle_event(group, NULL, fsn_mark, NULL, FS_IN_IGNORED,
+			     NULL, FSNOTIFY_EVENT_NONE, NULL);
 
 	i_mark = container_of(fsn_mark, struct inotify_inode_mark, fsn_mark);
-
-	ignored_event = fsnotify_create_event(NULL, FS_IN_IGNORED, NULL,
-					      FSNOTIFY_EVENT_NONE, NULL, 0,
-					      GFP_NOFS);
-	if (!ignored_event)
-		goto skip_send_ignore;
-
-	event_priv = kmem_cache_alloc(event_priv_cachep, GFP_NOFS);
-	if (unlikely(!event_priv))
-		goto skip_send_ignore;
-
-	fsn_event_priv = &event_priv->fsnotify_event_priv_data;
-
-	fsnotify_get_group(group);
-	fsn_event_priv->group = group;
-	event_priv->wd = i_mark->wd;
-
-	notify_event = fsnotify_add_notify_event(group, ignored_event, fsn_event_priv, NULL);
-	if (notify_event) {
-		if (IS_ERR(notify_event))
-			ret = PTR_ERR(notify_event);
-		else
-			fsnotify_put_event(notify_event);
-		inotify_free_event_priv(fsn_event_priv);
-	}
-
-skip_send_ignore:
-	/* matches the reference taken when the event was created */
-	if (ignored_event)
-		fsnotify_put_event(ignored_event);
-
 	/* remove this mark from the idr */
 	inotify_remove_from_idr(group, i_mark);
 
@@ -837,7 +794,6 @@ static int __init inotify_user_setup(void)
 	BUG_ON(hweight32(ALL_INOTIFY_BITS) != 21);
 
 	inotify_inode_mark_cachep = KMEM_CACHE(inotify_inode_mark, SLAB_PANIC);
-	event_priv_cachep = KMEM_CACHE(inotify_event_private_data, SLAB_PANIC);
 
 	inotify_max_queued_events = 16384;
 	inotify_max_user_instances = 128;
diff --git a/fs/notify/notification.c b/fs/notify/notification.c
index 7b51b05f160c..952237b8e2d2 100644
--- a/fs/notify/notification.c
+++ b/fs/notify/notification.c
@@ -48,15 +48,6 @@
 #include <linux/fsnotify_backend.h>
 #include "fsnotify.h"
 
-static struct kmem_cache *fsnotify_event_cachep;
-static struct kmem_cache *fsnotify_event_holder_cachep;
-/*
- * This is a magic event we send when the q is too full.  Since it doesn't
- * hold real event information we just keep one system wide and use it any time
- * it is needed.  It's refcnt is set 1 at kernel init time and will never
- * get set to 0 so it will never get 'freed'
- */
-static struct fsnotify_event *q_overflow_event;
 static atomic_t fsnotify_sync_cookie = ATOMIC_INIT(0);
 
 /**
@@ -76,60 +67,14 @@ bool fsnotify_notify_queue_is_empty(struct fsnotify_group *group)
 	return list_empty(&group->notification_list) ? true : false;
 }
 
-void fsnotify_get_event(struct fsnotify_event *event)
+void fsnotify_destroy_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+			    struct fsnotify_event *event)
 {
-	atomic_inc(&event->refcnt);
-}
-
-void fsnotify_put_event(struct fsnotify_event *event)
-{
-	if (!event)
+	/* Overflow events are per-group and we don't want to free them */
+	if (!event || event->mask == FS_Q_OVERFLOW)
 		return;
 
-	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&event->refcnt)) {
-		pr_debug("%s: event=%p\n", __func__, event);
-
-		if (event->data_type == FSNOTIFY_EVENT_PATH)
-			path_put(&event->path);
-
-		BUG_ON(!list_empty(&event->private_data_list));
-
-		kfree(event->file_name);
-		put_pid(event->tgid);
-		kmem_cache_free(fsnotify_event_cachep, event);
-	}
-}
-
-struct fsnotify_event_holder *fsnotify_alloc_event_holder(void)
-{
-	return kmem_cache_alloc(fsnotify_event_holder_cachep, GFP_KERNEL);
-}
-
-void fsnotify_destroy_event_holder(struct fsnotify_event_holder *holder)
-{
-	if (holder)
-		kmem_cache_free(fsnotify_event_holder_cachep, holder);
-}
-
-/*
- * Find the private data that the group previously attached to this event when
- * the group added the event to the notification queue (fsnotify_add_notify_event)
- */
-struct fsnotify_event_private_data *fsnotify_remove_priv_from_event(struct fsnotify_group *group, struct fsnotify_event *event)
-{
-	struct fsnotify_event_private_data *lpriv;
-	struct fsnotify_event_private_data *priv = NULL;
-
-	assert_spin_locked(&event->lock);
-
-	list_for_each_entry(lpriv, &event->private_data_list, event_list) {
-		if (lpriv->group == group) {
-			priv = lpriv;
-			list_del(&priv->event_list);
-			break;
-		}
-	}
-	return priv;
+	group->ops->free_event(event);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -137,91 +82,35 @@ struct fsnotify_event_private_data *fsnotify_remove_priv_from_event(struct fsnot
  * event off the queue to deal with.  If the event is successfully added to the
  * group's notification queue, a reference is taken on event.
  */
-struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_add_notify_event(struct fsnotify_group *group, struct fsnotify_event *event,
-						 struct fsnotify_event_private_data *priv,
+struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_add_notify_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+						 struct fsnotify_event *event,
 						 struct fsnotify_event *(*merge)(struct list_head *,
 										 struct fsnotify_event *))
 {
 	struct fsnotify_event *return_event = NULL;
-	struct fsnotify_event_holder *holder = NULL;
 	struct list_head *list = &group->notification_list;
 
-	pr_debug("%s: group=%p event=%p priv=%p\n", __func__, group, event, priv);
-
-	/*
-	 * There is one fsnotify_event_holder embedded inside each fsnotify_event.
-	 * Check if we expect to be able to use that holder.  If not alloc a new
-	 * holder.
-	 * For the overflow event it's possible that something will use the in
-	 * event holder before we get the lock so we may need to jump back and
-	 * alloc a new holder, this can't happen for most events...
-	 */
-	if (!list_empty(&event->holder.event_list)) {
-alloc_holder:
-		holder = fsnotify_alloc_event_holder();
-		if (!holder)
-			return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
-	}
+	pr_debug("%s: group=%p event=%p\n", __func__, group, event);
 
 	mutex_lock(&group->notification_mutex);
 
 	if (group->q_len >= group->max_events) {
-		event = q_overflow_event;
-
-		/*
-		 * we need to return the overflow event
-		 * which means we need a ref
-		 */
-		fsnotify_get_event(event);
+		/* Queue overflow event only if it isn't already queued */
+		if (list_empty(&group->overflow_event.list))
+			event = &group->overflow_event;
 		return_event = event;
-
-		/* sorry, no private data on the overflow event */
-		priv = NULL;
 	}
 
 	if (!list_empty(list) && merge) {
-		struct fsnotify_event *tmp;
-
-		tmp = merge(list, event);
-		if (tmp) {
-			mutex_unlock(&group->notification_mutex);
-
-			if (return_event)
-				fsnotify_put_event(return_event);
-			if (holder != &event->holder)
-				fsnotify_destroy_event_holder(holder);
-			return tmp;
-		}
-	}
-
-	spin_lock(&event->lock);
-
-	if (list_empty(&event->holder.event_list)) {
-		if (unlikely(holder))
-			fsnotify_destroy_event_holder(holder);
-		holder = &event->holder;
-	} else if (unlikely(!holder)) {
-		/* between the time we checked above and got the lock the in
-		 * event holder was used, go back and get a new one */
-		spin_unlock(&event->lock);
-		mutex_unlock(&group->notification_mutex);
-
+		return_event = merge(list, event);
 		if (return_event) {
-			fsnotify_put_event(return_event);
-			return_event = NULL;
+			mutex_unlock(&group->notification_mutex);
+			return return_event;
 		}
-
-		goto alloc_holder;
 	}
 
 	group->q_len++;
-	holder->event = event;
-
-	fsnotify_get_event(event);
-	list_add_tail(&holder->event_list, list);
-	if (priv)
-		list_add_tail(&priv->event_list, &event->private_data_list);
-	spin_unlock(&event->lock);
+	list_add_tail(&event->list, list);
 	mutex_unlock(&group->notification_mutex);
 
 	wake_up(&group->notification_waitq);
@@ -230,32 +119,20 @@ struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_add_notify_event(struct fsnotify_group *group, s
 }
 
 /*
- * Remove and return the first event from the notification list.  There is a
- * reference held on this event since it was on the list.  It is the responsibility
- * of the caller to drop this reference.
+ * Remove and return the first event from the notification list.  It is the
+ * responsibility of the caller to destroy the obtained event
  */
 struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_remove_notify_event(struct fsnotify_group *group)
 {
 	struct fsnotify_event *event;
-	struct fsnotify_event_holder *holder;
 
 	BUG_ON(!mutex_is_locked(&group->notification_mutex));
 
 	pr_debug("%s: group=%p\n", __func__, group);
 
-	holder = list_first_entry(&group->notification_list, struct fsnotify_event_holder, event_list);
-
-	event = holder->event;
-
-	spin_lock(&event->lock);
-	holder->event = NULL;
-	list_del_init(&holder->event_list);
-	spin_unlock(&event->lock);
-
-	/* event == holder means we are referenced through the in event holder */
-	if (holder != &event->holder)
-		fsnotify_destroy_event_holder(holder);
-
+	event = list_first_entry(&group->notification_list,
+				 struct fsnotify_event, list);
+	list_del(&event->list);
 	group->q_len--;
 
 	return event;
@@ -266,15 +143,10 @@ struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_remove_notify_event(struct fsnotify_group *group
  */
 struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_peek_notify_event(struct fsnotify_group *group)
 {
-	struct fsnotify_event *event;
-	struct fsnotify_event_holder *holder;
-
 	BUG_ON(!mutex_is_locked(&group->notification_mutex));
 
-	holder = list_first_entry(&group->notification_list, struct fsnotify_event_holder, event_list);
-	event = holder->event;
-
-	return event;
+	return list_first_entry(&group->notification_list,
+				struct fsnotify_event, list);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -284,181 +156,31 @@ struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_peek_notify_event(struct fsnotify_group *group)
 void fsnotify_flush_notify(struct fsnotify_group *group)
 {
 	struct fsnotify_event *event;
-	struct fsnotify_event_private_data *priv;
 
 	mutex_lock(&group->notification_mutex);
 	while (!fsnotify_notify_queue_is_empty(group)) {
 		event = fsnotify_remove_notify_event(group);
-		/* if they don't implement free_event_priv they better not have attached any */
-		if (group->ops->free_event_priv) {
-			spin_lock(&event->lock);
-			priv = fsnotify_remove_priv_from_event(group, event);
-			spin_unlock(&event->lock);
-			if (priv)
-				group->ops->free_event_priv(priv);
-		}
-		fsnotify_put_event(event); /* matches fsnotify_add_notify_event */
+		fsnotify_destroy_event(group, event);
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&group->notification_mutex);
 }
 
-static void initialize_event(struct fsnotify_event *event)
-{
-	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&event->holder.event_list);
-	atomic_set(&event->refcnt, 1);
-
-	spin_lock_init(&event->lock);
-
-	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&event->private_data_list);
-}
-
-/*
- * Caller damn well better be holding whatever mutex is protecting the
- * old_holder->event_list and the new_event must be a clean event which
- * cannot be found anywhere else in the kernel.
- */
-int fsnotify_replace_event(struct fsnotify_event_holder *old_holder,
-			   struct fsnotify_event *new_event)
-{
-	struct fsnotify_event *old_event = old_holder->event;
-	struct fsnotify_event_holder *new_holder = &new_event->holder;
-
-	enum event_spinlock_class {
-		SPINLOCK_OLD,
-		SPINLOCK_NEW,
-	};
-
-	pr_debug("%s: old_event=%p new_event=%p\n", __func__, old_event, new_event);
-
-	/*
-	 * if the new_event's embedded holder is in use someone
-	 * screwed up and didn't give us a clean new event.
-	 */
-	BUG_ON(!list_empty(&new_holder->event_list));
-
-	spin_lock_nested(&old_event->lock, SPINLOCK_OLD);
-	spin_lock_nested(&new_event->lock, SPINLOCK_NEW);
-
-	new_holder->event = new_event;
-	list_replace_init(&old_holder->event_list, &new_holder->event_list);
-
-	spin_unlock(&new_event->lock);
-	spin_unlock(&old_event->lock);
-
-	/* event == holder means we are referenced through the in event holder */
-	if (old_holder != &old_event->holder)
-		fsnotify_destroy_event_holder(old_holder);
-
-	fsnotify_get_event(new_event); /* on the list take reference */
-	fsnotify_put_event(old_event); /* off the list, drop reference */
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
-struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_clone_event(struct fsnotify_event *old_event)
-{
-	struct fsnotify_event *event;
-
-	event = kmem_cache_alloc(fsnotify_event_cachep, GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!event)
-		return NULL;
-
-	pr_debug("%s: old_event=%p new_event=%p\n", __func__, old_event, event);
-
-	memcpy(event, old_event, sizeof(*event));
-	initialize_event(event);
-
-	if (event->name_len) {
-		event->file_name = kstrdup(old_event->file_name, GFP_KERNEL);
-		if (!event->file_name) {
-			kmem_cache_free(fsnotify_event_cachep, event);
-			return NULL;
-		}
-	}
-	event->tgid = get_pid(old_event->tgid);
-	if (event->data_type == FSNOTIFY_EVENT_PATH)
-		path_get(&event->path);
-
-	return event;
-}
-
 /*
  * fsnotify_create_event - Allocate a new event which will be sent to each
  * group's handle_event function if the group was interested in this
  * particular event.
  *
- * @to_tell the inode which is supposed to receive the event (sometimes a
+ * @inode the inode which is supposed to receive the event (sometimes a
  *	parent of the inode to which the event happened.
  * @mask what actually happened.
  * @data pointer to the object which was actually affected
  * @data_type flag indication if the data is a file, path, inode, nothing...
  * @name the filename, if available
  */
-struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_create_event(struct inode *to_tell, __u32 mask, void *data,
-					     int data_type, const unsigned char *name,
-					     u32 cookie, gfp_t gfp)
+void fsnotify_init_event(struct fsnotify_event *event, struct inode *inode,
+			 u32 mask)
 {
-	struct fsnotify_event *event;
-
-	event = kmem_cache_zalloc(fsnotify_event_cachep, gfp);
-	if (!event)
-		return NULL;
-
-	pr_debug("%s: event=%p to_tell=%p mask=%x data=%p data_type=%d\n",
-		 __func__, event, to_tell, mask, data, data_type);
-
-	initialize_event(event);
-
-	if (name) {
-		event->file_name = kstrdup(name, gfp);
-		if (!event->file_name) {
-			kmem_cache_free(fsnotify_event_cachep, event);
-			return NULL;
-		}
-		event->name_len = strlen(event->file_name);
-	}
-
-	event->tgid = get_pid(task_tgid(current));
-	event->sync_cookie = cookie;
-	event->to_tell = to_tell;
-	event->data_type = data_type;
-
-	switch (data_type) {
-	case FSNOTIFY_EVENT_PATH: {
-		struct path *path = data;
-		event->path.dentry = path->dentry;
-		event->path.mnt = path->mnt;
-		path_get(&event->path);
-		break;
-	}
-	case FSNOTIFY_EVENT_INODE:
-		event->inode = data;
-		break;
-	case FSNOTIFY_EVENT_NONE:
-		event->inode = NULL;
-		event->path.dentry = NULL;
-		event->path.mnt = NULL;
-		break;
-	default:
-		BUG();
-	}
-
+	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&event->list);
+	event->inode = inode;
 	event->mask = mask;
-
-	return event;
 }
-
-static __init int fsnotify_notification_init(void)
-{
-	fsnotify_event_cachep = KMEM_CACHE(fsnotify_event, SLAB_PANIC);
-	fsnotify_event_holder_cachep = KMEM_CACHE(fsnotify_event_holder, SLAB_PANIC);
-
-	q_overflow_event = fsnotify_create_event(NULL, FS_Q_OVERFLOW, NULL,
-						 FSNOTIFY_EVENT_NONE, NULL, 0,
-						 GFP_KERNEL);
-	if (!q_overflow_event)
-		panic("unable to allocate fsnotify q_overflow_event\n");
-
-	return 0;
-}
-subsys_initcall(fsnotify_notification_init);
diff --git a/include/linux/fsnotify_backend.h b/include/linux/fsnotify_backend.h
index 4b2ee8d12f5e..7f3d7dcfcd00 100644
--- a/include/linux/fsnotify_backend.h
+++ b/include/linux/fsnotify_backend.h
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #include <linux/path.h> /* struct path */
 #include <linux/spinlock.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
-
 #include <linux/atomic.h>
 
 /*
@@ -79,6 +78,7 @@ struct fsnotify_group;
 struct fsnotify_event;
 struct fsnotify_mark;
 struct fsnotify_event_private_data;
+struct fsnotify_fname;
 
 /*
  * Each group much define these ops.  The fsnotify infrastructure will call
@@ -99,12 +99,26 @@ struct fsnotify_ops {
 				  struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmount_mark,
 				  __u32 mask, void *data, int data_type);
 	int (*handle_event)(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+			    struct inode *inode,
 			    struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
 			    struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmount_mark,
-			    struct fsnotify_event *event);
+			    u32 mask, void *data, int data_type,
+			    const unsigned char *file_name);
 	void (*free_group_priv)(struct fsnotify_group *group);
 	void (*freeing_mark)(struct fsnotify_mark *mark, struct fsnotify_group *group);
-	void (*free_event_priv)(struct fsnotify_event_private_data *priv);
+	void (*free_event)(struct fsnotify_event *event);
+};
+
+/*
+ * all of the information about the original object we want to now send to
+ * a group.  If you want to carry more info from the accessing task to the
+ * listener this structure is where you need to be adding fields.
+ */
+struct fsnotify_event {
+	struct list_head list;
+	/* inode may ONLY be dereferenced during handle_event(). */
+	struct inode *inode;	/* either the inode the event happened to or its parent */
+	u32 mask;		/* the type of access, bitwise OR for FS_* event types */
 };
 
 /*
@@ -148,7 +162,11 @@ struct fsnotify_group {
 					 * a group */
 	struct list_head marks_list;	/* all inode marks for this group */
 
-	struct fasync_struct    *fsn_fa;    /* async notification */
+	struct fasync_struct *fsn_fa;    /* async notification */
+
+	struct fsnotify_event overflow_event;	/* Event we queue when the
+						 * notification list is too
+						 * full */
 
 	/* groups can define private fields here or use the void *private */
 	union {
@@ -177,76 +195,10 @@ struct fsnotify_group {
 	};
 };
 
-/*
- * A single event can be queued in multiple group->notification_lists.
- *
- * each group->notification_list will point to an event_holder which in turns points
- * to the actual event that needs to be sent to userspace.
- *
- * Seemed cheaper to create a refcnt'd event and a small holder for every group
- * than create a different event for every group
- *
- */
-struct fsnotify_event_holder {
-	struct fsnotify_event *event;
-	struct list_head event_list;
-};
-
-/*
- * Inotify needs to tack data onto an event.  This struct lets us later find the
- * correct private data of the correct group.
- */
-struct fsnotify_event_private_data {
-	struct fsnotify_group *group;
-	struct list_head event_list;
-};
-
-/*
- * all of the information about the original object we want to now send to
- * a group.  If you want to carry more info from the accessing task to the
- * listener this structure is where you need to be adding fields.
- */
-struct fsnotify_event {
-	/*
-	 * If we create an event we are also likely going to need a holder
-	 * to link to a group.  So embed one holder in the event.  Means only
-	 * one allocation for the common case where we only have one group
-	 */
-	struct fsnotify_event_holder holder;
-	spinlock_t lock;	/* protection for the associated event_holder and private_list */
-	/* to_tell may ONLY be dereferenced during handle_event(). */
-	struct inode *to_tell;	/* either the inode the event happened to or its parent */
-	/*
-	 * depending on the event type we should have either a path or inode
-	 * We hold a reference on path, but NOT on inode.  Since we have the ref on
-	 * the path, it may be dereferenced at any point during this object's
-	 * lifetime.  That reference is dropped when this object's refcnt hits
-	 * 0.  If this event contains an inode instead of a path, the inode may
-	 * ONLY be used during handle_event().
-	 */
-	union {
-		struct path path;
-		struct inode *inode;
-	};
 /* when calling fsnotify tell it if the data is a path or inode */
 #define FSNOTIFY_EVENT_NONE	0
 #define FSNOTIFY_EVENT_PATH	1
 #define FSNOTIFY_EVENT_INODE	2
-	int data_type;		/* which of the above union we have */
-	atomic_t refcnt;	/* how many groups still are using/need to send this event */
-	__u32 mask;		/* the type of access, bitwise OR for FS_* event types */
-
-	u32 sync_cookie;	/* used to corrolate events, namely inotify mv events */
-	const unsigned char *file_name;
-	size_t name_len;
-	struct pid *tgid;
-
-#ifdef CONFIG_FANOTIFY_ACCESS_PERMISSIONS
-	__u32 response;	/* userspace answer to question */
-#endif /* CONFIG_FANOTIFY_ACCESS_PERMISSIONS */
-
-	struct list_head private_data_list;	/* groups can store private data here */
-};
 
 /*
  * Inode specific fields in an fsnotify_mark
@@ -370,17 +322,12 @@ extern void fsnotify_put_group(struct fsnotify_group *group);
 extern void fsnotify_destroy_group(struct fsnotify_group *group);
 /* fasync handler function */
 extern int fsnotify_fasync(int fd, struct file *file, int on);
-/* take a reference to an event */
-extern void fsnotify_get_event(struct fsnotify_event *event);
-extern void fsnotify_put_event(struct fsnotify_event *event);
-/* find private data previously attached to an event and unlink it */
-extern struct fsnotify_event_private_data *fsnotify_remove_priv_from_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
-									   struct fsnotify_event *event);
-
+/* Free event from memory */
+extern void fsnotify_destroy_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+				   struct fsnotify_event *event);
 /* attach the event to the group notification queue */
 extern struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_add_notify_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
 							struct fsnotify_event *event,
-							struct fsnotify_event_private_data *priv,
 							struct fsnotify_event *(*merge)(struct list_head *,
 											struct fsnotify_event *));
 /* true if the group notification queue is empty */
@@ -430,15 +377,8 @@ extern void fsnotify_put_mark(struct fsnotify_mark *mark);
 extern void fsnotify_unmount_inodes(struct list_head *list);
 
 /* put here because inotify does some weird stuff when destroying watches */
-extern struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_create_event(struct inode *to_tell, __u32 mask,
-						    void *data, int data_is,
-						    const unsigned char *name,
-						    u32 cookie, gfp_t gfp);
-
-/* fanotify likes to change events after they are on lists... */
-extern struct fsnotify_event *fsnotify_clone_event(struct fsnotify_event *old_event);
-extern int fsnotify_replace_event(struct fsnotify_event_holder *old_holder,
-				  struct fsnotify_event *new_event);
+extern void fsnotify_init_event(struct fsnotify_event *event,
+				struct inode *to_tell, u32 mask);
 
 #else
 
diff --git a/kernel/audit_tree.c b/kernel/audit_tree.c
index 43c307dc9453..bcc0b1821227 100644
--- a/kernel/audit_tree.c
+++ b/kernel/audit_tree.c
@@ -912,9 +912,11 @@ static void evict_chunk(struct audit_chunk *chunk)
 }
 
 static int audit_tree_handle_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+				   struct inode *to_tell,
 				   struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
-				   struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmonut_mark,
-				   struct fsnotify_event *event)
+				   struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmount_mark,
+				   u32 mask, void *data, int data_type,
+				   const unsigned char *file_name)
 {
 	BUG();
 	return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -945,7 +947,7 @@ static const struct fsnotify_ops audit_tree_ops = {
 	.handle_event = audit_tree_handle_event,
 	.should_send_event = audit_tree_send_event,
 	.free_group_priv = NULL,
-	.free_event_priv = NULL,
+	.free_event = NULL,
 	.freeing_mark = audit_tree_freeing_mark,
 };
 
diff --git a/kernel/audit_watch.c b/kernel/audit_watch.c
index 22831c4d369c..a760c32cb639 100644
--- a/kernel/audit_watch.c
+++ b/kernel/audit_watch.c
@@ -475,25 +475,25 @@ static bool audit_watch_should_send_event(struct fsnotify_group *group, struct i
 
 /* Update watch data in audit rules based on fsnotify events. */
 static int audit_watch_handle_event(struct fsnotify_group *group,
+				    struct inode *to_tell,
 				    struct fsnotify_mark *inode_mark,
 				    struct fsnotify_mark *vfsmount_mark,
-				    struct fsnotify_event *event)
+				    u32 mask, void *data, int data_type,
+				    const unsigned char *dname)
 {
 	struct inode *inode;
-	__u32 mask = event->mask;
-	const char *dname = event->file_name;
 	struct audit_parent *parent;
 
 	parent = container_of(inode_mark, struct audit_parent, mark);
 
 	BUG_ON(group != audit_watch_group);
 
-	switch (event->data_type) {
+	switch (data_type) {
 	case (FSNOTIFY_EVENT_PATH):
-		inode = event->path.dentry->d_inode;
+		inode = ((struct path *)data)->dentry->d_inode;
 		break;
 	case (FSNOTIFY_EVENT_INODE):
-		inode = event->inode;
+		inode = (struct inode *)data;
 		break;
 	default:
 		BUG();
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ static const struct fsnotify_ops audit_watch_fsnotify_ops = {
 	.handle_event = 	audit_watch_handle_event,
 	.free_group_priv = 	NULL,
 	.freeing_mark = 	NULL,
-	.free_event_priv = 	NULL,
+	.free_event = 		NULL,
 };
 
 static int __init audit_watch_init(void)