diff --git a/fs/exfat/dir.c b/fs/exfat/dir.c
index 9f9295847a4e..077944d3c2c0 100644
--- a/fs/exfat/dir.c
+++ b/fs/exfat/dir.c
@@ -448,88 +448,34 @@ static void exfat_init_name_entry(struct exfat_dentry *ep,
 	}
 }
 
-int exfat_init_dir_entry(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry, unsigned int type, unsigned int start_clu,
-		unsigned long long size)
+void exfat_init_dir_entry(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
+		unsigned int type, unsigned int start_clu,
+		unsigned long long size, struct timespec64 *ts)
 {
-	struct super_block *sb = inode->i_sb;
+	struct super_block *sb = es->sb;
 	struct exfat_sb_info *sbi = EXFAT_SB(sb);
-	struct timespec64 ts = current_time(inode);
 	struct exfat_dentry *ep;
-	struct buffer_head *bh;
-
-	/*
-	 * We cannot use exfat_get_dentry_set here because file ep is not
-	 * initialized yet.
-	 */
-	ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, entry, &bh);
-	if (!ep)
-		return -EIO;
 
+	ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, ES_IDX_FILE);
 	exfat_set_entry_type(ep, type);
-	exfat_set_entry_time(sbi, &ts,
+	exfat_set_entry_time(sbi, ts,
 			&ep->dentry.file.create_tz,
 			&ep->dentry.file.create_time,
 			&ep->dentry.file.create_date,
 			&ep->dentry.file.create_time_cs);
-	exfat_set_entry_time(sbi, &ts,
+	exfat_set_entry_time(sbi, ts,
 			&ep->dentry.file.modify_tz,
 			&ep->dentry.file.modify_time,
 			&ep->dentry.file.modify_date,
 			&ep->dentry.file.modify_time_cs);
-	exfat_set_entry_time(sbi, &ts,
+	exfat_set_entry_time(sbi, ts,
 			&ep->dentry.file.access_tz,
 			&ep->dentry.file.access_time,
 			&ep->dentry.file.access_date,
 			NULL);
 
-	exfat_update_bh(bh, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
-	brelse(bh);
-
-	ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, entry + 1, &bh);
-	if (!ep)
-		return -EIO;
-
+	ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, ES_IDX_STREAM);
 	exfat_init_stream_entry(ep, start_clu, size);
-	exfat_update_bh(bh, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
-	brelse(bh);
-
-	return 0;
-}
-
-int exfat_update_dir_chksum(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry)
-{
-	struct super_block *sb = inode->i_sb;
-	int ret = 0;
-	int i, num_entries;
-	u16 chksum;
-	struct exfat_dentry *ep, *fep;
-	struct buffer_head *fbh, *bh;
-
-	fep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, entry, &fbh);
-	if (!fep)
-		return -EIO;
-
-	num_entries = fep->dentry.file.num_ext + 1;
-	chksum = exfat_calc_chksum16(fep, DENTRY_SIZE, 0, CS_DIR_ENTRY);
-
-	for (i = 1; i < num_entries; i++) {
-		ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, entry + i, &bh);
-		if (!ep) {
-			ret = -EIO;
-			goto release_fbh;
-		}
-		chksum = exfat_calc_chksum16(ep, DENTRY_SIZE, chksum,
-				CS_DEFAULT);
-		brelse(bh);
-	}
-
-	fep->dentry.file.checksum = cpu_to_le16(chksum);
-	exfat_update_bh(fbh, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
-release_fbh:
-	brelse(fbh);
-	return ret;
 }
 
 static void exfat_free_benign_secondary_clusters(struct inode *inode,
@@ -551,76 +497,49 @@ static void exfat_free_benign_secondary_clusters(struct inode *inode,
 	exfat_free_cluster(inode, &dir);
 }
 
-int exfat_init_ext_entry(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry, int num_entries, struct exfat_uni_name *p_uniname)
+void exfat_init_ext_entry(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es, int num_entries,
+		struct exfat_uni_name *p_uniname)
 {
-	struct super_block *sb = inode->i_sb;
 	int i;
 	unsigned short *uniname = p_uniname->name;
 	struct exfat_dentry *ep;
-	struct buffer_head *bh;
-	int sync = IS_DIRSYNC(inode);
-
-	ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, entry, &bh);
-	if (!ep)
-		return -EIO;
 
+	ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, ES_IDX_FILE);
 	ep->dentry.file.num_ext = (unsigned char)(num_entries - 1);
-	exfat_update_bh(bh, sync);
-	brelse(bh);
-
-	ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, entry + 1, &bh);
-	if (!ep)
-		return -EIO;
 
+	ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, ES_IDX_STREAM);
 	ep->dentry.stream.name_len = p_uniname->name_len;
 	ep->dentry.stream.name_hash = cpu_to_le16(p_uniname->name_hash);
-	exfat_update_bh(bh, sync);
-	brelse(bh);
-
-	for (i = EXFAT_FIRST_CLUSTER; i < num_entries; i++) {
-		ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, entry + i, &bh);
-		if (!ep)
-			return -EIO;
-
-		if (exfat_get_entry_type(ep) & TYPE_BENIGN_SEC)
-			exfat_free_benign_secondary_clusters(inode, ep);
 
+	for (i = ES_IDX_FIRST_FILENAME; i < num_entries; i++) {
+		ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, i);
 		exfat_init_name_entry(ep, uniname);
-		exfat_update_bh(bh, sync);
-		brelse(bh);
 		uniname += EXFAT_FILE_NAME_LEN;
 	}
 
-	exfat_update_dir_chksum(inode, p_dir, entry);
-	return 0;
+	exfat_update_dir_chksum(es);
 }
 
-int exfat_remove_entries(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry, int order, int num_entries)
+void exfat_remove_entries(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
+		int order)
 {
-	struct super_block *sb = inode->i_sb;
 	int i;
 	struct exfat_dentry *ep;
-	struct buffer_head *bh;
 
-	for (i = order; i < num_entries; i++) {
-		ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, entry + i, &bh);
-		if (!ep)
-			return -EIO;
+	for (i = order; i < es->num_entries; i++) {
+		ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, i);
 
 		if (exfat_get_entry_type(ep) & TYPE_BENIGN_SEC)
 			exfat_free_benign_secondary_clusters(inode, ep);
 
 		exfat_set_entry_type(ep, TYPE_DELETED);
-		exfat_update_bh(bh, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
-		brelse(bh);
 	}
 
-	return 0;
+	if (order < es->num_entries)
+		es->modified = true;
 }
 
-void exfat_update_dir_chksum_with_entry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es)
+void exfat_update_dir_chksum(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es)
 {
 	int chksum_type = CS_DIR_ENTRY, i;
 	unsigned short chksum = 0;
@@ -775,7 +694,6 @@ struct exfat_dentry *exfat_get_dentry(struct super_block *sb,
 }
 
 enum exfat_validate_dentry_mode {
-	ES_MODE_STARTED,
 	ES_MODE_GET_FILE_ENTRY,
 	ES_MODE_GET_STRM_ENTRY,
 	ES_MODE_GET_NAME_ENTRY,
@@ -790,11 +708,6 @@ static bool exfat_validate_entry(unsigned int type,
 		return false;
 
 	switch (*mode) {
-	case ES_MODE_STARTED:
-		if  (type != TYPE_FILE && type != TYPE_DIR)
-			return false;
-		*mode = ES_MODE_GET_FILE_ENTRY;
-		break;
 	case ES_MODE_GET_FILE_ENTRY:
 		if (type != TYPE_STREAM)
 			return false;
@@ -834,7 +747,7 @@ struct exfat_dentry *exfat_get_dentry_cached(
 }
 
 /*
- * Returns a set of dentries for a file or dir.
+ * Returns a set of dentries.
  *
  * Note It provides a direct pointer to bh->data via exfat_get_dentry_cached().
  * User should call exfat_get_dentry_set() after setting 'modified' to apply
@@ -842,22 +755,24 @@ struct exfat_dentry *exfat_get_dentry_cached(
  *
  * in:
  *   sb+p_dir+entry: indicates a file/dir
- *   type:  specifies how many dentries should be included.
+ *   num_entries: specifies how many dentries should be included.
+ *                It will be set to es->num_entries if it is not 0.
+ *                If num_entries is 0, es->num_entries will be obtained
+ *                from the first dentry.
+ * out:
+ *   es: pointer of entry set on success.
  * return:
- *   pointer of entry set on success,
- *   NULL on failure.
+ *   0 on success
+ *   -error code on failure
  */
-int exfat_get_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
+static int __exfat_get_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
 		struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_chain *p_dir, int entry,
-		unsigned int type)
+		unsigned int num_entries)
 {
 	int ret, i, num_bh;
 	unsigned int off;
 	sector_t sec;
 	struct exfat_sb_info *sbi = EXFAT_SB(sb);
-	struct exfat_dentry *ep;
-	int num_entries;
-	enum exfat_validate_dentry_mode mode = ES_MODE_STARTED;
 	struct buffer_head *bh;
 
 	if (p_dir->dir == DIR_DELETED) {
@@ -880,12 +795,18 @@ int exfat_get_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
 		return -EIO;
 	es->bh[es->num_bh++] = bh;
 
-	ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, ES_IDX_FILE);
-	if (!exfat_validate_entry(exfat_get_entry_type(ep), &mode))
-		goto put_es;
+	if (num_entries == ES_ALL_ENTRIES) {
+		struct exfat_dentry *ep;
+
+		ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, ES_IDX_FILE);
+		if (ep->type != EXFAT_FILE) {
+			brelse(bh);
+			return -EIO;
+		}
+
+		num_entries = ep->dentry.file.num_ext + 1;
+	}
 
-	num_entries = type == ES_ALL_ENTRIES ?
-		ep->dentry.file.num_ext + 1 : type;
 	es->num_entries = num_entries;
 
 	num_bh = EXFAT_B_TO_BLK_ROUND_UP(off + num_entries * DENTRY_SIZE, sb);
@@ -918,8 +839,27 @@ int exfat_get_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
 		es->bh[es->num_bh++] = bh;
 	}
 
+	return 0;
+
+put_es:
+	exfat_put_dentry_set(es, false);
+	return -EIO;
+}
+
+int exfat_get_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
+		struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
+		int entry, unsigned int num_entries)
+{
+	int ret, i;
+	struct exfat_dentry *ep;
+	enum exfat_validate_dentry_mode mode = ES_MODE_GET_FILE_ENTRY;
+
+	ret = __exfat_get_dentry_set(es, sb, p_dir, entry, num_entries);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return ret;
+
 	/* validate cached dentries */
-	for (i = ES_IDX_STREAM; i < num_entries; i++) {
+	for (i = ES_IDX_STREAM; i < es->num_entries; i++) {
 		ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, i);
 		if (!exfat_validate_entry(exfat_get_entry_type(ep), &mode))
 			goto put_es;
@@ -931,6 +871,85 @@ put_es:
 	return -EIO;
 }
 
+static int exfat_validate_empty_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es)
+{
+	struct exfat_dentry *ep;
+	struct buffer_head *bh;
+	int i, off;
+	bool unused_hit = false;
+
+	/*
+	 * ONLY UNUSED OR DELETED DENTRIES ARE ALLOWED:
+	 * Although it violates the specification for a deleted entry to
+	 * follow an unused entry, some exFAT implementations could work
+	 * like this. Therefore, to improve compatibility, let's allow it.
+	 */
+	for (i = 0; i < es->num_entries; i++) {
+		ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, i);
+		if (ep->type == EXFAT_UNUSED) {
+			unused_hit = true;
+		} else if (!IS_EXFAT_DELETED(ep->type)) {
+			if (unused_hit)
+				goto err_used_follow_unused;
+			i++;
+			goto count_skip_entries;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+
+err_used_follow_unused:
+	off = es->start_off + (i << DENTRY_SIZE_BITS);
+	bh = es->bh[EXFAT_B_TO_BLK(off, es->sb)];
+
+	exfat_fs_error(es->sb,
+		"in sector %lld, dentry %d should be unused, but 0x%x",
+		bh->b_blocknr, off >> DENTRY_SIZE_BITS, ep->type);
+
+	return -EIO;
+
+count_skip_entries:
+	es->num_entries = EXFAT_B_TO_DEN(EXFAT_BLK_TO_B(es->num_bh, es->sb) - es->start_off);
+	for (; i < es->num_entries; i++) {
+		ep = exfat_get_dentry_cached(es, i);
+		if (IS_EXFAT_DELETED(ep->type))
+			break;
+	}
+
+	return i;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Get an empty dentry set.
+ *
+ * in:
+ *   sb+p_dir+entry: indicates the empty dentry location
+ *   num_entries: specifies how many empty dentries should be included.
+ * out:
+ *   es: pointer of empty dentry set on success.
+ * return:
+ *   0  : on success
+ *   >0 : the dentries are not empty, the return value is the number of
+ *        dentries to be skipped for the next lookup.
+ *   <0 : on failure
+ */
+int exfat_get_empty_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
+		struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
+		int entry, unsigned int num_entries)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = __exfat_get_dentry_set(es, sb, p_dir, entry, num_entries);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return ret;
+
+	ret = exfat_validate_empty_dentry_set(es);
+	if (ret)
+		exfat_put_dentry_set(es, false);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
 static inline void exfat_reset_empty_hint(struct exfat_hint_femp *hint_femp)
 {
 	hint_femp->eidx = EXFAT_HINT_NONE;
@@ -1187,27 +1206,6 @@ found:
 	return dentry - num_ext;
 }
 
-int exfat_count_ext_entries(struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry, struct exfat_dentry *ep)
-{
-	int i, count = 0;
-	unsigned int type;
-	struct exfat_dentry *ext_ep;
-	struct buffer_head *bh;
-
-	for (i = 0, entry++; i < ep->dentry.file.num_ext; i++, entry++) {
-		ext_ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, entry, &bh);
-		if (!ext_ep)
-			return -EIO;
-
-		type = exfat_get_entry_type(ext_ep);
-		brelse(bh);
-		if (type & TYPE_CRITICAL_SEC || type & TYPE_BENIGN_SEC)
-			count++;
-	}
-	return count;
-}
-
 int exfat_count_dir_entries(struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_chain *p_dir)
 {
 	int i, count = 0;
diff --git a/fs/exfat/exfat_fs.h b/fs/exfat/exfat_fs.h
index 361595433480..ecc5db952deb 100644
--- a/fs/exfat/exfat_fs.h
+++ b/fs/exfat/exfat_fs.h
@@ -431,8 +431,6 @@ int exfat_ent_get(struct super_block *sb, unsigned int loc,
 		unsigned int *content);
 int exfat_ent_set(struct super_block *sb, unsigned int loc,
 		unsigned int content);
-int exfat_count_ext_entries(struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry, struct exfat_dentry *p_entry);
 int exfat_chain_cont_cluster(struct super_block *sb, unsigned int chain,
 		unsigned int len);
 int exfat_zeroed_cluster(struct inode *dir, unsigned int clu);
@@ -480,16 +478,14 @@ int exfat_get_cluster(struct inode *inode, unsigned int cluster,
 extern const struct inode_operations exfat_dir_inode_operations;
 extern const struct file_operations exfat_dir_operations;
 unsigned int exfat_get_entry_type(struct exfat_dentry *p_entry);
-int exfat_init_dir_entry(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry, unsigned int type, unsigned int start_clu,
-		unsigned long long size);
-int exfat_init_ext_entry(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry, int num_entries, struct exfat_uni_name *p_uniname);
-int exfat_remove_entries(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry, int order, int num_entries);
-int exfat_update_dir_chksum(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int entry);
-void exfat_update_dir_chksum_with_entry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es);
+void exfat_init_dir_entry(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
+		unsigned int type, unsigned int start_clu,
+		unsigned long long size, struct timespec64 *ts);
+void exfat_init_ext_entry(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es, int num_entries,
+		struct exfat_uni_name *p_uniname);
+void exfat_remove_entries(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
+		int order);
+void exfat_update_dir_chksum(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es);
 int exfat_calc_num_entries(struct exfat_uni_name *p_uniname);
 int exfat_find_dir_entry(struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_inode_info *ei,
 		struct exfat_chain *p_dir, struct exfat_uni_name *p_uniname,
@@ -501,7 +497,10 @@ struct exfat_dentry *exfat_get_dentry_cached(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
 		int num);
 int exfat_get_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
 		struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_chain *p_dir, int entry,
-		unsigned int type);
+		unsigned int num_entries);
+int exfat_get_empty_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es,
+		struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_chain *p_dir, int entry,
+		unsigned int num_entries);
 int exfat_put_dentry_set(struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es, int sync);
 int exfat_count_dir_entries(struct super_block *sb, struct exfat_chain *p_dir);
 
diff --git a/fs/exfat/inode.c b/fs/exfat/inode.c
index 0687f952956c..dd894e558c91 100644
--- a/fs/exfat/inode.c
+++ b/fs/exfat/inode.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ int __exfat_write_inode(struct inode *inode, int sync)
 		ep2->dentry.stream.start_clu = EXFAT_FREE_CLUSTER;
 	}
 
-	exfat_update_dir_chksum_with_entry_set(&es);
+	exfat_update_dir_chksum(&es);
 	return exfat_put_dentry_set(&es, sync);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/exfat/namei.c b/fs/exfat/namei.c
index 9c549fd11fc8..631ad9e8e32a 100644
--- a/fs/exfat/namei.c
+++ b/fs/exfat/namei.c
@@ -204,21 +204,16 @@ const struct dentry_operations exfat_utf8_dentry_ops = {
 	.d_compare	= exfat_utf8_d_cmp,
 };
 
-/* used only in search empty_slot() */
-#define CNT_UNUSED_NOHIT        (-1)
-#define CNT_UNUSED_HIT          (-2)
 /* search EMPTY CONTINUOUS "num_entries" entries */
 static int exfat_search_empty_slot(struct super_block *sb,
 		struct exfat_hint_femp *hint_femp, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
-		int num_entries)
+		int num_entries, struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es)
 {
-	int i, dentry, num_empty = 0;
+	int i, dentry, ret;
 	int dentries_per_clu;
-	unsigned int type;
 	struct exfat_chain clu;
-	struct exfat_dentry *ep;
 	struct exfat_sb_info *sbi = EXFAT_SB(sb);
-	struct buffer_head *bh;
+	int total_entries = EXFAT_CLU_TO_DEN(p_dir->size, sbi);
 
 	dentries_per_clu = sbi->dentries_per_clu;
 
@@ -231,7 +226,7 @@ static int exfat_search_empty_slot(struct super_block *sb,
 		 * Otherwise, and if "dentry + hint_famp->count" is also equal
 		 * to "p_dir->size * dentries_per_clu", it means ENOSPC.
 		 */
-		if (dentry + hint_femp->count == p_dir->size * dentries_per_clu &&
+		if (dentry + hint_femp->count == total_entries &&
 		    num_entries > hint_femp->count)
 			return -ENOSPC;
 
@@ -242,69 +237,41 @@ static int exfat_search_empty_slot(struct super_block *sb,
 		dentry = 0;
 	}
 
-	while (clu.dir != EXFAT_EOF_CLUSTER) {
+	while (dentry + num_entries < total_entries &&
+	       clu.dir != EXFAT_EOF_CLUSTER) {
 		i = dentry & (dentries_per_clu - 1);
 
-		for (; i < dentries_per_clu; i++, dentry++) {
-			ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, &clu, i, &bh);
-			if (!ep)
-				return -EIO;
-			type = exfat_get_entry_type(ep);
-			brelse(bh);
+		ret = exfat_get_empty_dentry_set(es, sb, &clu, i, num_entries);
+		if (ret < 0)
+			return ret;
+		else if (ret == 0)
+			return dentry;
 
-			if (type == TYPE_UNUSED || type == TYPE_DELETED) {
-				num_empty++;
-				if (hint_femp->eidx == EXFAT_HINT_NONE) {
-					hint_femp->eidx = dentry;
-					hint_femp->count = CNT_UNUSED_NOHIT;
-					exfat_chain_set(&hint_femp->cur,
-						clu.dir, clu.size, clu.flags);
-				}
+		dentry += ret;
+		i += ret;
 
-				if (type == TYPE_UNUSED &&
-				    hint_femp->count != CNT_UNUSED_HIT)
-					hint_femp->count = CNT_UNUSED_HIT;
+		while (i >= dentries_per_clu) {
+			if (clu.flags == ALLOC_NO_FAT_CHAIN) {
+				if (--clu.size > 0)
+					clu.dir++;
+				else
+					clu.dir = EXFAT_EOF_CLUSTER;
 			} else {
-				if (hint_femp->eidx != EXFAT_HINT_NONE &&
-				    hint_femp->count == CNT_UNUSED_HIT) {
-					/* unused empty group means
-					 * an empty group which includes
-					 * unused dentry
-					 */
-					exfat_fs_error(sb,
-						"found bogus dentry(%d) beyond unused empty group(%d) (start_clu : %u, cur_clu : %u)",
-						dentry, hint_femp->eidx,
-						p_dir->dir, clu.dir);
+				if (exfat_get_next_cluster(sb, &clu.dir))
 					return -EIO;
-				}
-
-				num_empty = 0;
-				hint_femp->eidx = EXFAT_HINT_NONE;
 			}
 
-			if (num_empty >= num_entries) {
-				/* found and invalidate hint_femp */
-				hint_femp->eidx = EXFAT_HINT_NONE;
-				return (dentry - (num_entries - 1));
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (clu.flags == ALLOC_NO_FAT_CHAIN) {
-			if (--clu.size > 0)
-				clu.dir++;
-			else
-				clu.dir = EXFAT_EOF_CLUSTER;
-		} else {
-			if (exfat_get_next_cluster(sb, &clu.dir))
-				return -EIO;
+			i -= dentries_per_clu;
 		}
 	}
 
-	hint_femp->eidx = p_dir->size * dentries_per_clu - num_empty;
-	hint_femp->count = num_empty;
-	if (num_empty == 0)
+	hint_femp->eidx = dentry;
+	hint_femp->count = 0;
+	if (dentry == total_entries || clu.dir == EXFAT_EOF_CLUSTER)
 		exfat_chain_set(&hint_femp->cur, EXFAT_EOF_CLUSTER, 0,
 				clu.flags);
+	else
+		hint_femp->cur = clu;
 
 	return -ENOSPC;
 }
@@ -325,7 +292,8 @@ static int exfat_check_max_dentries(struct inode *inode)
  * if there isn't any empty slot, expand cluster chain.
  */
 static int exfat_find_empty_entry(struct inode *inode,
-		struct exfat_chain *p_dir, int num_entries)
+		struct exfat_chain *p_dir, int num_entries,
+		struct exfat_entry_set_cache *es)
 {
 	int dentry;
 	unsigned int ret, last_clu;
@@ -344,7 +312,7 @@ static int exfat_find_empty_entry(struct inode *inode,
 	}
 
 	while ((dentry = exfat_search_empty_slot(sb, &hint_femp, p_dir,
-					num_entries)) < 0) {
+					num_entries, es)) < 0) {
 		if (dentry == -EIO)
 			break;
 
@@ -499,6 +467,8 @@ static int exfat_add_entry(struct inode *inode, const char *path,
 	struct exfat_sb_info *sbi = EXFAT_SB(sb);
 	struct exfat_uni_name uniname;
 	struct exfat_chain clu;
+	struct timespec64 ts = current_time(inode);
+	struct exfat_entry_set_cache es;
 	int clu_size = 0;
 	unsigned int start_clu = EXFAT_FREE_CLUSTER;
 
@@ -513,7 +483,7 @@ static int exfat_add_entry(struct inode *inode, const char *path,
 	}
 
 	/* exfat_find_empty_entry must be called before alloc_cluster() */
-	dentry = exfat_find_empty_entry(inode, p_dir, num_entries);
+	dentry = exfat_find_empty_entry(inode, p_dir, num_entries, &es);
 	if (dentry < 0) {
 		ret = dentry; /* -EIO or -ENOSPC */
 		goto out;
@@ -521,8 +491,10 @@ static int exfat_add_entry(struct inode *inode, const char *path,
 
 	if (type == TYPE_DIR && !sbi->options.zero_size_dir) {
 		ret = exfat_alloc_new_dir(inode, &clu);
-		if (ret)
+		if (ret) {
+			exfat_put_dentry_set(&es, false);
 			goto out;
+		}
 		start_clu = clu.dir;
 		clu_size = sbi->cluster_size;
 	}
@@ -531,12 +503,10 @@ static int exfat_add_entry(struct inode *inode, const char *path,
 	/* fill the dos name directory entry information of the created file.
 	 * the first cluster is not determined yet. (0)
 	 */
-	ret = exfat_init_dir_entry(inode, p_dir, dentry, type,
-		start_clu, clu_size);
-	if (ret)
-		goto out;
+	exfat_init_dir_entry(&es, type, start_clu, clu_size, &ts);
+	exfat_init_ext_entry(&es, num_entries, &uniname);
 
-	ret = exfat_init_ext_entry(inode, p_dir, dentry, num_entries, &uniname);
+	ret = exfat_put_dentry_set(&es, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
 	if (ret)
 		goto out;
 
@@ -577,6 +547,7 @@ static int exfat_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	struct exfat_dir_entry info;
 	loff_t i_pos;
 	int err;
+	loff_t size = i_size_read(dir);
 
 	mutex_lock(&EXFAT_SB(sb)->s_lock);
 	exfat_set_volume_dirty(sb);
@@ -587,7 +558,7 @@ static int exfat_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	inode_inc_iversion(dir);
 	inode_set_mtime_to_ts(dir, inode_set_ctime_current(dir));
-	if (IS_DIRSYNC(dir))
+	if (IS_DIRSYNC(dir) && size != i_size_read(dir))
 		exfat_sync_inode(dir);
 	else
 		mark_inode_dirty(dir);
@@ -795,12 +766,11 @@ unlock:
 static int exfat_unlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 {
 	struct exfat_chain cdir;
-	struct exfat_dentry *ep;
 	struct super_block *sb = dir->i_sb;
 	struct inode *inode = dentry->d_inode;
 	struct exfat_inode_info *ei = EXFAT_I(inode);
-	struct buffer_head *bh;
-	int num_entries, entry, err = 0;
+	struct exfat_entry_set_cache es;
+	int entry, err = 0;
 
 	mutex_lock(&EXFAT_SB(sb)->s_lock);
 	exfat_chain_dup(&cdir, &ei->dir);
@@ -811,26 +781,20 @@ static int exfat_unlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 		goto unlock;
 	}
 
-	ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, &cdir, entry, &bh);
-	if (!ep) {
+	err = exfat_get_dentry_set(&es, sb, &cdir, entry, ES_ALL_ENTRIES);
+	if (err) {
 		err = -EIO;
 		goto unlock;
 	}
-	num_entries = exfat_count_ext_entries(sb, &cdir, entry, ep);
-	if (num_entries < 0) {
-		err = -EIO;
-		brelse(bh);
-		goto unlock;
-	}
-	num_entries++;
-	brelse(bh);
 
 	exfat_set_volume_dirty(sb);
+
 	/* update the directory entry */
-	if (exfat_remove_entries(dir, &cdir, entry, 0, num_entries)) {
-		err = -EIO;
+	exfat_remove_entries(inode, &es, ES_IDX_FILE);
+
+	err = exfat_put_dentry_set(&es, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
+	if (err)
 		goto unlock;
-	}
 
 	/* This doesn't modify ei */
 	ei->dir.dir = DIR_DELETED;
@@ -838,10 +802,7 @@ static int exfat_unlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 	inode_inc_iversion(dir);
 	simple_inode_init_ts(dir);
 	exfat_truncate_inode_atime(dir);
-	if (IS_DIRSYNC(dir))
-		exfat_sync_inode(dir);
-	else
-		mark_inode_dirty(dir);
+	mark_inode_dirty(dir);
 
 	clear_nlink(inode);
 	simple_inode_init_ts(inode);
@@ -862,6 +823,7 @@ static int exfat_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	struct exfat_chain cdir;
 	loff_t i_pos;
 	int err;
+	loff_t size = i_size_read(dir);
 
 	mutex_lock(&EXFAT_SB(sb)->s_lock);
 	exfat_set_volume_dirty(sb);
@@ -872,7 +834,7 @@ static int exfat_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	inode_inc_iversion(dir);
 	inode_set_mtime_to_ts(dir, inode_set_ctime_current(dir));
-	if (IS_DIRSYNC(dir))
+	if (IS_DIRSYNC(dir) && size != i_size_read(dir))
 		exfat_sync_inode(dir);
 	else
 		mark_inode_dirty(dir);
@@ -946,13 +908,12 @@ static int exfat_check_dir_empty(struct super_block *sb,
 static int exfat_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 {
 	struct inode *inode = dentry->d_inode;
-	struct exfat_dentry *ep;
 	struct exfat_chain cdir, clu_to_free;
 	struct super_block *sb = inode->i_sb;
 	struct exfat_sb_info *sbi = EXFAT_SB(sb);
 	struct exfat_inode_info *ei = EXFAT_I(inode);
-	struct buffer_head *bh;
-	int num_entries, entry, err;
+	struct exfat_entry_set_cache es;
+	int entry, err;
 
 	mutex_lock(&EXFAT_SB(inode->i_sb)->s_lock);
 
@@ -976,27 +937,20 @@ static int exfat_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 		goto unlock;
 	}
 
-	ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, &cdir, entry, &bh);
-	if (!ep) {
+	err = exfat_get_dentry_set(&es, sb, &cdir, entry, ES_ALL_ENTRIES);
+	if (err) {
 		err = -EIO;
 		goto unlock;
 	}
 
-	num_entries = exfat_count_ext_entries(sb, &cdir, entry, ep);
-	if (num_entries < 0) {
-		err = -EIO;
-		brelse(bh);
-		goto unlock;
-	}
-	num_entries++;
-	brelse(bh);
-
 	exfat_set_volume_dirty(sb);
-	err = exfat_remove_entries(dir, &cdir, entry, 0, num_entries);
-	if (err) {
-		exfat_err(sb, "failed to exfat_remove_entries : err(%d)", err);
+
+	exfat_remove_entries(inode, &es, ES_IDX_FILE);
+
+	err = exfat_put_dentry_set(&es, IS_DIRSYNC(dir));
+	if (err)
 		goto unlock;
-	}
+
 	ei->dir.dir = DIR_DELETED;
 
 	inode_inc_iversion(dir);
@@ -1022,67 +976,52 @@ static int exfat_rename_file(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
 		int oldentry, struct exfat_uni_name *p_uniname,
 		struct exfat_inode_info *ei)
 {
-	int ret, num_old_entries, num_new_entries;
+	int ret, num_new_entries;
 	struct exfat_dentry *epold, *epnew;
 	struct super_block *sb = inode->i_sb;
-	struct buffer_head *new_bh, *old_bh;
+	struct exfat_entry_set_cache old_es, new_es;
 	int sync = IS_DIRSYNC(inode);
 
-	epold = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, oldentry, &old_bh);
-	if (!epold)
-		return -EIO;
-
-	num_old_entries = exfat_count_ext_entries(sb, p_dir, oldentry, epold);
-	if (num_old_entries < 0)
-		return -EIO;
-	num_old_entries++;
-
 	num_new_entries = exfat_calc_num_entries(p_uniname);
 	if (num_new_entries < 0)
 		return num_new_entries;
 
-	if (num_old_entries < num_new_entries) {
+	ret = exfat_get_dentry_set(&old_es, sb, p_dir, oldentry, ES_ALL_ENTRIES);
+	if (ret) {
+		ret = -EIO;
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	epold = exfat_get_dentry_cached(&old_es, ES_IDX_FILE);
+
+	if (old_es.num_entries < num_new_entries) {
 		int newentry;
 
-		newentry =
-			exfat_find_empty_entry(inode, p_dir, num_new_entries);
-		if (newentry < 0)
-			return newentry; /* -EIO or -ENOSPC */
-
-		epnew = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, newentry, &new_bh);
-		if (!epnew)
-			return -EIO;
+		newentry = exfat_find_empty_entry(inode, p_dir, num_new_entries,
+				&new_es);
+		if (newentry < 0) {
+			ret = newentry; /* -EIO or -ENOSPC */
+			goto put_old_es;
+		}
 
+		epnew = exfat_get_dentry_cached(&new_es, ES_IDX_FILE);
 		*epnew = *epold;
 		if (exfat_get_entry_type(epnew) == TYPE_FILE) {
 			epnew->dentry.file.attr |= cpu_to_le16(EXFAT_ATTR_ARCHIVE);
 			ei->attr |= EXFAT_ATTR_ARCHIVE;
 		}
-		exfat_update_bh(new_bh, sync);
-		brelse(old_bh);
-		brelse(new_bh);
-
-		epold = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, oldentry + 1, &old_bh);
-		if (!epold)
-			return -EIO;
-		epnew = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, newentry + 1, &new_bh);
-		if (!epnew) {
-			brelse(old_bh);
-			return -EIO;
-		}
 
+		epold = exfat_get_dentry_cached(&old_es, ES_IDX_STREAM);
+		epnew = exfat_get_dentry_cached(&new_es, ES_IDX_STREAM);
 		*epnew = *epold;
-		exfat_update_bh(new_bh, sync);
-		brelse(old_bh);
-		brelse(new_bh);
 
-		ret = exfat_init_ext_entry(inode, p_dir, newentry,
-			num_new_entries, p_uniname);
+		exfat_init_ext_entry(&new_es, num_new_entries, p_uniname);
+
+		ret = exfat_put_dentry_set(&new_es, sync);
 		if (ret)
-			return ret;
+			goto put_old_es;
 
-		exfat_remove_entries(inode, p_dir, oldentry, 0,
-			num_old_entries);
+		exfat_remove_entries(inode, &old_es, ES_IDX_FILE);
 		ei->dir = *p_dir;
 		ei->entry = newentry;
 	} else {
@@ -1090,85 +1029,72 @@ static int exfat_rename_file(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_dir,
 			epold->dentry.file.attr |= cpu_to_le16(EXFAT_ATTR_ARCHIVE);
 			ei->attr |= EXFAT_ATTR_ARCHIVE;
 		}
-		exfat_update_bh(old_bh, sync);
-		brelse(old_bh);
-		ret = exfat_init_ext_entry(inode, p_dir, oldentry,
-			num_new_entries, p_uniname);
-		if (ret)
-			return ret;
 
-		exfat_remove_entries(inode, p_dir, oldentry, num_new_entries,
-			num_old_entries);
+		exfat_remove_entries(inode, &old_es, ES_IDX_FIRST_FILENAME + 1);
+		exfat_init_ext_entry(&old_es, num_new_entries, p_uniname);
 	}
-	return 0;
+	return exfat_put_dentry_set(&old_es, sync);
+
+put_old_es:
+	exfat_put_dentry_set(&old_es, false);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int exfat_move_file(struct inode *inode, struct exfat_chain *p_olddir,
 		int oldentry, struct exfat_chain *p_newdir,
 		struct exfat_uni_name *p_uniname, struct exfat_inode_info *ei)
 {
-	int ret, newentry, num_new_entries, num_old_entries;
+	int ret, newentry, num_new_entries;
 	struct exfat_dentry *epmov, *epnew;
 	struct super_block *sb = inode->i_sb;
-	struct buffer_head *mov_bh, *new_bh;
-
-	epmov = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_olddir, oldentry, &mov_bh);
-	if (!epmov)
-		return -EIO;
-
-	num_old_entries = exfat_count_ext_entries(sb, p_olddir, oldentry,
-		epmov);
-	if (num_old_entries < 0)
-		return -EIO;
-	num_old_entries++;
+	struct exfat_entry_set_cache mov_es, new_es;
 
 	num_new_entries = exfat_calc_num_entries(p_uniname);
 	if (num_new_entries < 0)
 		return num_new_entries;
 
-	newentry = exfat_find_empty_entry(inode, p_newdir, num_new_entries);
-	if (newentry < 0)
-		return newentry; /* -EIO or -ENOSPC */
-
-	epnew = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_newdir, newentry, &new_bh);
-	if (!epnew)
+	ret = exfat_get_dentry_set(&mov_es, sb, p_olddir, oldentry,
+			ES_ALL_ENTRIES);
+	if (ret)
 		return -EIO;
 
+	newentry = exfat_find_empty_entry(inode, p_newdir, num_new_entries,
+			&new_es);
+	if (newentry < 0) {
+		ret = newentry; /* -EIO or -ENOSPC */
+		goto put_mov_es;
+	}
+
+	epmov = exfat_get_dentry_cached(&mov_es, ES_IDX_FILE);
+	epnew = exfat_get_dentry_cached(&new_es, ES_IDX_FILE);
 	*epnew = *epmov;
 	if (exfat_get_entry_type(epnew) == TYPE_FILE) {
 		epnew->dentry.file.attr |= cpu_to_le16(EXFAT_ATTR_ARCHIVE);
 		ei->attr |= EXFAT_ATTR_ARCHIVE;
 	}
-	exfat_update_bh(new_bh, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
-	brelse(mov_bh);
-	brelse(new_bh);
-
-	epmov = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_olddir, oldentry + 1, &mov_bh);
-	if (!epmov)
-		return -EIO;
-	epnew = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_newdir, newentry + 1, &new_bh);
-	if (!epnew) {
-		brelse(mov_bh);
-		return -EIO;
-	}
 
+	epmov = exfat_get_dentry_cached(&mov_es, ES_IDX_STREAM);
+	epnew = exfat_get_dentry_cached(&new_es, ES_IDX_STREAM);
 	*epnew = *epmov;
-	exfat_update_bh(new_bh, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
-	brelse(mov_bh);
-	brelse(new_bh);
 
-	ret = exfat_init_ext_entry(inode, p_newdir, newentry, num_new_entries,
-		p_uniname);
-	if (ret)
-		return ret;
-
-	exfat_remove_entries(inode, p_olddir, oldentry, 0, num_old_entries);
+	exfat_init_ext_entry(&new_es, num_new_entries, p_uniname);
+	exfat_remove_entries(inode, &mov_es, ES_IDX_FILE);
 
 	exfat_chain_set(&ei->dir, p_newdir->dir, p_newdir->size,
 		p_newdir->flags);
 
 	ei->entry = newentry;
-	return 0;
+
+	ret = exfat_put_dentry_set(&new_es, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
+	if (ret)
+		goto put_mov_es;
+
+	return exfat_put_dentry_set(&mov_es, IS_DIRSYNC(inode));
+
+put_mov_es:
+	exfat_put_dentry_set(&mov_es, false);
+
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /* rename or move a old file into a new file */
@@ -1186,7 +1112,6 @@ static int __exfat_rename(struct inode *old_parent_inode,
 	struct exfat_sb_info *sbi = EXFAT_SB(sb);
 	const unsigned char *new_path = new_dentry->d_name.name;
 	struct inode *new_inode = new_dentry->d_inode;
-	int num_entries;
 	struct exfat_inode_info *new_ei = NULL;
 	unsigned int new_entry_type = TYPE_UNUSED;
 	int new_entry = 0;
@@ -1257,25 +1182,21 @@ static int __exfat_rename(struct inode *old_parent_inode,
 				&newdir, &uni_name, ei);
 
 	if (!ret && new_inode) {
+		struct exfat_entry_set_cache es;
+
 		/* delete entries of new_dir */
-		ep = exfat_get_dentry(sb, p_dir, new_entry, &new_bh);
-		if (!ep) {
+		ret = exfat_get_dentry_set(&es, sb, p_dir, new_entry,
+				ES_ALL_ENTRIES);
+		if (ret) {
 			ret = -EIO;
 			goto del_out;
 		}
 
-		num_entries = exfat_count_ext_entries(sb, p_dir, new_entry, ep);
-		if (num_entries < 0) {
-			ret = -EIO;
-			goto del_out;
-		}
-		brelse(new_bh);
+		exfat_remove_entries(new_inode, &es, ES_IDX_FILE);
 
-		if (exfat_remove_entries(new_inode, p_dir, new_entry, 0,
-				num_entries + 1)) {
-			ret = -EIO;
+		ret = exfat_put_dentry_set(&es, IS_DIRSYNC(new_inode));
+		if (ret)
 			goto del_out;
-		}
 
 		/* Free the clusters if new_inode is a dir(as if exfat_rmdir) */
 		if (new_entry_type == TYPE_DIR &&
@@ -1317,6 +1238,7 @@ static int exfat_rename(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	struct super_block *sb = old_dir->i_sb;
 	loff_t i_pos;
 	int err;
+	loff_t size = i_size_read(new_dir);
 
 	/*
 	 * The VFS already checks for existence, so for local filesystems
@@ -1338,7 +1260,7 @@ static int exfat_rename(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	simple_rename_timestamp(old_dir, old_dentry, new_dir, new_dentry);
 	EXFAT_I(new_dir)->i_crtime = current_time(new_dir);
 	exfat_truncate_inode_atime(new_dir);
-	if (IS_DIRSYNC(new_dir))
+	if (IS_DIRSYNC(new_dir) && size != i_size_read(new_dir))
 		exfat_sync_inode(new_dir);
 	else
 		mark_inode_dirty(new_dir);
@@ -1359,9 +1281,7 @@ static int exfat_rename(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	}
 
 	inode_inc_iversion(old_dir);
-	if (IS_DIRSYNC(old_dir))
-		exfat_sync_inode(old_dir);
-	else
+	if (new_dir != old_dir)
 		mark_inode_dirty(old_dir);
 
 	if (new_inode) {