[PATCH 1/8] char: misc: Simplify locking with guard()

From: Tzung-Bi Shih

Date: Mon Apr 27 2026 - 09:52:53 EST


Use guard() to simplify locking in misc_{de,}register().

Signed-off-by: Tzung-Bi Shih <tzungbi@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
drivers/char/misc.c | 32 +++++++++++---------------------
1 file changed, 11 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-)

diff --git a/drivers/char/misc.c b/drivers/char/misc.c
index 726516fb0a3b..e2bea4f01851 100644
--- a/drivers/char/misc.c
+++ b/drivers/char/misc.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@

#include <linux/module.h>

+#include <linux/cleanup.h>
#include <linux/fs.h>
#include <linux/errno.h>
#include <linux/miscdevice.h>
@@ -209,7 +210,6 @@ static const struct file_operations misc_fops = {
int misc_register(struct miscdevice *misc)
{
dev_t dev;
- int err = 0;
bool is_dynamic = (misc->minor == MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR);

if (misc->minor > MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR) {
@@ -220,32 +220,26 @@ int misc_register(struct miscdevice *misc)

INIT_LIST_HEAD(&misc->list);

- mutex_lock(&misc_mtx);
+ guard(mutex)(&misc_mtx);

if (is_dynamic) {
int i = misc_minor_alloc(misc->minor);

- if (i < 0) {
- err = -EBUSY;
- goto out;
- }
+ if (i < 0)
+ return -EBUSY;
misc->minor = i;
} else {
struct miscdevice *c;
int i;

list_for_each_entry(c, &misc_list, list) {
- if (c->minor == misc->minor) {
- err = -EBUSY;
- goto out;
- }
+ if (c->minor == misc->minor)
+ return -EBUSY;
}

i = misc_minor_alloc(misc->minor);
- if (i < 0) {
- err = -EBUSY;
- goto out;
- }
+ if (i < 0)
+ return -EBUSY;
}

dev = MKDEV(MISC_MAJOR, misc->minor);
@@ -258,8 +252,7 @@ int misc_register(struct miscdevice *misc)
if (is_dynamic) {
misc->minor = MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR;
}
- err = PTR_ERR(misc->this_device);
- goto out;
+ return PTR_ERR(misc->this_device);
}

/*
@@ -267,9 +260,7 @@ int misc_register(struct miscdevice *misc)
* earlier defaults
*/
list_add(&misc->list, &misc_list);
- out:
- mutex_unlock(&misc_mtx);
- return err;
+ return 0;
}
EXPORT_SYMBOL(misc_register);

@@ -283,13 +274,12 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(misc_register);

void misc_deregister(struct miscdevice *misc)
{
- mutex_lock(&misc_mtx);
+ guard(mutex)(&misc_mtx);
list_del_init(&misc->list);
device_destroy(&misc_class, MKDEV(MISC_MAJOR, misc->minor));
misc_minor_free(misc->minor);
if (misc->minor > MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR)
misc->minor = MISC_DYNAMIC_MINOR;
- mutex_unlock(&misc_mtx);
}
EXPORT_SYMBOL(misc_deregister);

--
2.51.0