diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_log.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_log.c
index fe88ef67f93a..e810e9df91b7 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_log.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_log.c
@@ -1031,7 +1031,7 @@ xfs_log_need_covered(xfs_mount_t *mp)
 	struct xlog	*log = mp->m_log;
 	int		needed = 0;
 
-	if (!xfs_fs_writable(mp))
+	if (!xfs_fs_writable(mp, SB_FREEZE_WRITE))
 		return 0;
 
 	if (!xlog_cil_empty(log))
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_mount.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_mount.c
index 51435dbce9c4..13d117089101 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_mount.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_mount.c
@@ -1074,11 +1074,23 @@ xfs_unmountfs(
 	xfs_sysfs_del(&mp->m_kobj);
 }
 
-int
-xfs_fs_writable(xfs_mount_t *mp)
+/*
+ * Determine whether modifications can proceed. The caller specifies the minimum
+ * freeze level for which modifications should not be allowed. This allows
+ * certain operations to proceed while the freeze sequence is in progress, if
+ * necessary.
+ */
+bool
+xfs_fs_writable(
+	struct xfs_mount	*mp,
+	int			level)
 {
-	return !(mp->m_super->s_writers.frozen || XFS_FORCED_SHUTDOWN(mp) ||
-		(mp->m_flags & XFS_MOUNT_RDONLY));
+	ASSERT(level > SB_UNFROZEN);
+	if ((mp->m_super->s_writers.frozen >= level) ||
+	    XFS_FORCED_SHUTDOWN(mp) || (mp->m_flags & XFS_MOUNT_RDONLY))
+		return false;
+
+	return true;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1086,9 +1098,9 @@ xfs_fs_writable(xfs_mount_t *mp)
  *
  * Sync the superblock counters to disk.
  *
- * Note this code can be called during the process of freezing, so
- * we may need to use the transaction allocator which does not
- * block when the transaction subsystem is in its frozen state.
+ * Note this code can be called during the process of freezing, so we use the
+ * transaction allocator that does not block when the transaction subsystem is
+ * in its frozen state.
  */
 int
 xfs_log_sbcount(xfs_mount_t *mp)
@@ -1096,7 +1108,8 @@ xfs_log_sbcount(xfs_mount_t *mp)
 	xfs_trans_t	*tp;
 	int		error;
 
-	if (!xfs_fs_writable(mp))
+	/* allow this to proceed during the freeze sequence... */
+	if (!xfs_fs_writable(mp, SB_FREEZE_COMPLETE))
 		return 0;
 
 	xfs_icsb_sync_counters(mp, 0);
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_mount.h b/fs/xfs/xfs_mount.h
index 394bc711171a..01fb28f5ae1c 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_mount.h
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_mount.h
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ extern int	xfs_mount_log_sb(xfs_mount_t *, __int64_t);
 extern struct xfs_buf *xfs_getsb(xfs_mount_t *, int);
 extern int	xfs_readsb(xfs_mount_t *, int);
 extern void	xfs_freesb(xfs_mount_t *);
-extern int	xfs_fs_writable(xfs_mount_t *);
+extern bool	xfs_fs_writable(struct xfs_mount *mp, int level);
 extern int	xfs_sb_validate_fsb_count(struct xfs_sb *, __uint64_t);
 
 extern int	xfs_dev_is_read_only(struct xfs_mount *, char *);