diff --git a/Documentation/filesystems/locking.rst b/Documentation/filesystems/locking.rst
index d20a32b77b60..0ec0bb6eb0fb 100644
--- a/Documentation/filesystems/locking.rst
+++ b/Documentation/filesystems/locking.rst
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ prototypes::
 	int (*link) (struct dentry *,struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 	int (*unlink) (struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 	int (*symlink) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,const char *);
-	int (*mkdir) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,umode_t);
+	struct dentry *(*mkdir) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,umode_t);
 	int (*rmdir) (struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 	int (*mknod) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,umode_t,dev_t);
 	int (*rename) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
diff --git a/Documentation/filesystems/porting.rst b/Documentation/filesystems/porting.rst
index 3ed3f39ecf71..d7171057aa3d 100644
--- a/Documentation/filesystems/porting.rst
+++ b/Documentation/filesystems/porting.rst
@@ -1178,3 +1178,22 @@ these conditions don't require explicit checks:
 
 LOOKUP_EXCL now means "target must not exist".  It can be combined with
 LOOK_CREATE or LOOKUP_RENAME_TARGET.
+
+---
+
+** mandatory**
+
+->mkdir() now returns a 'struct dentry *'.  If the created inode is
+found to already be in cache and have a dentry (often IS_ROOT), it will
+need to be spliced into the given name in place of the given dentry.
+That dentry now needs to be returned.  If the original dentry is used,
+NULL should be returned.  Any error should be returned with
+ERR_PTR().
+
+In general, filesystems which use d_instantiate_new() to install the new
+inode can safely return NULL.  Filesystems which may not have an I_NEW inode
+should use d_drop();d_splice_alias() and return the result of the latter.
+
+If a positive dentry cannot be returned for some reason, in-kernel
+clients such as cachefiles, nfsd, smb/server may not perform ideally but
+will fail-safe.
diff --git a/Documentation/filesystems/vfs.rst b/Documentation/filesystems/vfs.rst
index 31eea688609a..ae79c30b6c0c 100644
--- a/Documentation/filesystems/vfs.rst
+++ b/Documentation/filesystems/vfs.rst
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ As of kernel 2.6.22, the following members are defined:
 		int (*link) (struct dentry *,struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 		int (*unlink) (struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 		int (*symlink) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,const char *);
-		int (*mkdir) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,umode_t);
+		struct dentry *(*mkdir) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,umode_t);
 		int (*rmdir) (struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 		int (*mknod) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,umode_t,dev_t);
 		int (*rename) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
@@ -562,7 +562,26 @@ otherwise noted.
 ``mkdir``
 	called by the mkdir(2) system call.  Only required if you want
 	to support creating subdirectories.  You will probably need to
-	call d_instantiate() just as you would in the create() method
+	call d_instantiate_new() just as you would in the create() method.
+
+	If d_instantiate_new() is not used and if the fh_to_dentry()
+	export operation is provided, or if the storage might be
+	accessible by another path (e.g. with a network filesystem)
+	then more care may be needed.  Importantly d_instantate()
+	should not be used with an inode that is no longer I_NEW if there
+	any chance that the inode could already be attached to a dentry.
+	This is because of a hard rule in the VFS that a directory must
+	only ever have one dentry.
+
+	For example, if an NFS filesystem is mounted twice the new directory
+	could be visible on the other mount before it is on the original
+	mount, and a pair of name_to_handle_at(), open_by_handle_at()
+	calls could instantiate the directory inode with an IS_ROOT()
+	dentry before the first mkdir returns.
+
+	If there is any chance this could happen, then the new inode
+	should be d_drop()ed and attached with d_splice_alias().  The
+	returned dentry (if any) should be returned by ->mkdir().
 
 ``rmdir``
 	called by the rmdir(2) system call.  Only required if you want
diff --git a/fs/9p/vfs_inode.c b/fs/9p/vfs_inode.c
index 3e68521f4e2f..399d455d50d6 100644
--- a/fs/9p/vfs_inode.c
+++ b/fs/9p/vfs_inode.c
@@ -669,8 +669,8 @@ v9fs_vfs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
  *
  */
 
-static int v9fs_vfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-			  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *v9fs_vfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	int err;
 	u32 perm;
@@ -692,8 +692,7 @@ static int v9fs_vfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	if (fid)
 		p9_fid_put(fid);
-
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/fs/9p/vfs_inode_dotl.c b/fs/9p/vfs_inode_dotl.c
index 143ac03b7425..cc2007be2173 100644
--- a/fs/9p/vfs_inode_dotl.c
+++ b/fs/9p/vfs_inode_dotl.c
@@ -350,9 +350,9 @@ v9fs_vfs_atomic_open_dotl(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
  *
  */
 
-static int v9fs_vfs_mkdir_dotl(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
-			       struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
-			       umode_t omode)
+static struct dentry *v9fs_vfs_mkdir_dotl(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
+					  struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
+					  umode_t omode)
 {
 	int err;
 	struct v9fs_session_info *v9ses;
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ static int v9fs_vfs_mkdir_dotl(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	p9_fid_put(fid);
 	v9fs_put_acl(dacl, pacl);
 	p9_fid_put(dfid);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 static int
diff --git a/fs/affs/affs.h b/fs/affs/affs.h
index e8c2c4535cb3..ac4e9a02910b 100644
--- a/fs/affs/affs.h
+++ b/fs/affs/affs.h
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ extern struct dentry *affs_lookup(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry, unsi
 extern int	affs_unlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry);
 extern int	affs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 			struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode, bool);
-extern int	affs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+extern struct dentry *affs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 			struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode);
 extern int	affs_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry);
 extern int	affs_link(struct dentry *olddentry, struct inode *dir,
diff --git a/fs/affs/namei.c b/fs/affs/namei.c
index 8c154490a2d6..f883be50db12 100644
--- a/fs/affs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/affs/namei.c
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ affs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int
+struct dentry *
 affs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	   struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ affs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	inode = affs_new_inode(dir);
 	if (!inode)
-		return -ENOSPC;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOSPC);
 
 	inode->i_mode = S_IFDIR | mode;
 	affs_mode_to_prot(inode);
@@ -298,9 +298,9 @@ affs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 		clear_nlink(inode);
 		mark_inode_dirty(inode);
 		iput(inode);
-		return error;
+		return ERR_PTR(error);
 	}
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 int
diff --git a/fs/afs/dir.c b/fs/afs/dir.c
index 02cbf38e1a77..5bddcc20786e 100644
--- a/fs/afs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/afs/dir.c
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ static bool afs_lookup_filldir(struct dir_context *ctx, const char *name, int nl
 			      loff_t fpos, u64 ino, unsigned dtype);
 static int afs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode, bool excl);
-static int afs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode);
+static struct dentry *afs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode);
 static int afs_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry);
 static int afs_unlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry);
 static int afs_link(struct dentry *from, struct inode *dir,
@@ -1315,8 +1315,8 @@ static const struct afs_operation_ops afs_mkdir_operation = {
 /*
  * create a directory on an AFS filesystem
  */
-static int afs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *afs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct afs_operation *op;
 	struct afs_vnode *dvnode = AFS_FS_I(dir);
@@ -1328,7 +1328,7 @@ static int afs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	op = afs_alloc_operation(NULL, dvnode->volume);
 	if (IS_ERR(op)) {
 		d_drop(dentry);
-		return PTR_ERR(op);
+		return ERR_CAST(op);
 	}
 
 	fscache_use_cookie(afs_vnode_cache(dvnode), true);
@@ -1344,7 +1344,7 @@ static int afs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	op->ops		= &afs_mkdir_operation;
 	ret = afs_do_sync_operation(op);
 	afs_dir_unuse_cookie(dvnode, ret);
-	return ret;
+	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/fs/autofs/root.c b/fs/autofs/root.c
index 530d18827e35..174c7205fee4 100644
--- a/fs/autofs/root.c
+++ b/fs/autofs/root.c
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ static int autofs_dir_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,
 			      struct dentry *, const char *);
 static int autofs_dir_unlink(struct inode *, struct dentry *);
 static int autofs_dir_rmdir(struct inode *, struct dentry *);
-static int autofs_dir_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,
-			    struct dentry *, umode_t);
+static struct dentry *autofs_dir_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,
+				       struct dentry *, umode_t);
 static long autofs_root_ioctl(struct file *, unsigned int, unsigned long);
 #ifdef CONFIG_COMPAT
 static long autofs_root_compat_ioctl(struct file *,
@@ -720,9 +720,9 @@ static int autofs_dir_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int autofs_dir_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
-			    struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
-			    umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *autofs_dir_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
+				       struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
+				       umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct autofs_sb_info *sbi = autofs_sbi(dir->i_sb);
 	struct autofs_info *ino = autofs_dentry_ino(dentry);
@@ -739,7 +739,7 @@ static int autofs_dir_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 
 	inode = autofs_get_inode(dir->i_sb, S_IFDIR | mode);
 	if (!inode)
-		return -ENOMEM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 	d_add(dentry, inode);
 
 	if (sbi->version < 5)
@@ -751,7 +751,7 @@ static int autofs_dir_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	inc_nlink(dir);
 	inode_set_mtime_to_ts(dir, inode_set_ctime_current(dir));
 
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 /* Get/set timeout ioctl() operation */
diff --git a/fs/bad_inode.c b/fs/bad_inode.c
index 316d88da2ce1..0ef9bcb744dd 100644
--- a/fs/bad_inode.c
+++ b/fs/bad_inode.c
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ static int bad_inode_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	return -EIO;
 }
 
-static int bad_inode_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-			   struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *bad_inode_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
-	return -EIO;
+	return ERR_PTR(-EIO);
 }
 
 static int bad_inode_rmdir (struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
diff --git a/fs/bcachefs/fs.c b/fs/bcachefs/fs.c
index 90ade8f648d9..1c94a680fcce 100644
--- a/fs/bcachefs/fs.c
+++ b/fs/bcachefs/fs.c
@@ -858,10 +858,10 @@ static int bch2_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	return bch2_err_class(ret);
 }
 
-static int bch2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
-		      struct inode *vdir, struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *bch2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
+				 struct inode *vdir, struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
-	return bch2_mknod(idmap, vdir, dentry, mode|S_IFDIR, 0);
+	return ERR_PTR(bch2_mknod(idmap, vdir, dentry, mode|S_IFDIR, 0));
 }
 
 static int bch2_rename2(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
diff --git a/fs/btrfs/inode.c b/fs/btrfs/inode.c
index a9322601ab5c..851d3e8a06a7 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/inode.c
@@ -6739,18 +6739,18 @@ static int btrfs_link(struct dentry *old_dentry, struct inode *dir,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int btrfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *btrfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode *inode;
 
 	inode = new_inode(dir->i_sb);
 	if (!inode)
-		return -ENOMEM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 	inode_init_owner(idmap, inode, dir, S_IFDIR | mode);
 	inode->i_op = &btrfs_dir_inode_operations;
 	inode->i_fop = &btrfs_dir_file_operations;
-	return btrfs_create_common(dir, dentry, inode);
+	return ERR_PTR(btrfs_create_common(dir, dentry, inode));
 }
 
 static noinline int uncompress_inline(struct btrfs_path *path,
diff --git a/fs/ceph/dir.c b/fs/ceph/dir.c
index 62e99e65250d..39e0f240de06 100644
--- a/fs/ceph/dir.c
+++ b/fs/ceph/dir.c
@@ -1092,8 +1092,8 @@ static int ceph_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int ceph_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ceph_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct ceph_mds_client *mdsc = ceph_sb_to_mdsc(dir->i_sb);
 	struct ceph_client *cl = mdsc->fsc->client;
@@ -1104,7 +1104,7 @@ static int ceph_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	err = ceph_wait_on_conflict_unlink(dentry);
 	if (err)
-		return err;
+		return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 	if (ceph_snap(dir) == CEPH_SNAPDIR) {
 		/* mkdir .snap/foo is a MKSNAP */
@@ -1173,7 +1173,7 @@ static int ceph_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	else
 		d_drop(dentry);
 	ceph_release_acl_sec_ctx(&as_ctx);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 static int ceph_link(struct dentry *old_dentry, struct inode *dir,
diff --git a/fs/coda/dir.c b/fs/coda/dir.c
index a3e2dfeedfbf..ab69d8f0cec2 100644
--- a/fs/coda/dir.c
+++ b/fs/coda/dir.c
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ static int coda_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return error;
 }
 
-static int coda_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *de, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *coda_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *de, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode *inode;
 	struct coda_vattr attrs;
@@ -177,14 +177,14 @@ static int coda_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	struct CodaFid newfid;
 
 	if (is_root_inode(dir) && coda_iscontrol(name, len))
-		return -EPERM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-EPERM);
 
 	attrs.va_mode = mode;
-	error = venus_mkdir(dir->i_sb, coda_i2f(dir), 
+	error = venus_mkdir(dir->i_sb, coda_i2f(dir),
 			       name, len, &newfid, &attrs);
 	if (error)
 		goto err_out;
-         
+
 	inode = coda_iget(dir->i_sb, &newfid, &attrs);
 	if (IS_ERR(inode)) {
 		error = PTR_ERR(inode);
@@ -195,10 +195,10 @@ static int coda_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	coda_dir_inc_nlink(dir);
 	coda_dir_update_mtime(dir);
 	d_instantiate(de, inode);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 err_out:
 	d_drop(de);
-	return error;
+	return ERR_PTR(error);
 }
 
 /* try to make de an entry in dir_inodde linked to source_de */ 
diff --git a/fs/configfs/dir.c b/fs/configfs/dir.c
index 7d10278db30d..5568cb74b322 100644
--- a/fs/configfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/configfs/dir.c
@@ -1280,8 +1280,8 @@ int configfs_depend_item_unlocked(struct configfs_subsystem *caller_subsys,
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(configfs_depend_item_unlocked);
 
-static int configfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-			  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *configfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	int ret = 0;
 	int module_got = 0;
@@ -1461,7 +1461,7 @@ static int configfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	put_fragment(frag);
 
 out:
-	return ret;
+	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }
 
 static int configfs_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
diff --git a/fs/ecryptfs/inode.c b/fs/ecryptfs/inode.c
index a9819ddb1ab8..6315dd194228 100644
--- a/fs/ecryptfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/ecryptfs/inode.c
@@ -503,8 +503,8 @@ static int ecryptfs_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	return rc;
 }
 
-static int ecryptfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-			  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ecryptfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	int rc;
 	struct dentry *lower_dentry;
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ static int ecryptfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	inode_unlock(lower_dir);
 	if (d_really_is_negative(dentry))
 		d_drop(dentry);
-	return rc;
+	return ERR_PTR(rc);
 }
 
 static int ecryptfs_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
diff --git a/fs/exfat/namei.c b/fs/exfat/namei.c
index 691dd77b6ab5..1660c9bbcfa9 100644
--- a/fs/exfat/namei.c
+++ b/fs/exfat/namei.c
@@ -835,8 +835,8 @@ static int exfat_unlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int exfat_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *exfat_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct super_block *sb = dir->i_sb;
 	struct inode *inode;
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ static int exfat_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	loff_t size = i_size_read(dir);
 
 	if (unlikely(exfat_forced_shutdown(sb)))
-		return -EIO;
+		return ERR_PTR(-EIO);
 
 	mutex_lock(&EXFAT_SB(sb)->s_lock);
 	exfat_set_volume_dirty(sb);
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ static int exfat_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 unlock:
 	mutex_unlock(&EXFAT_SB(sb)->s_lock);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 static int exfat_check_dir_empty(struct super_block *sb,
diff --git a/fs/ext2/namei.c b/fs/ext2/namei.c
index 8346ab9534c1..bde617a66cec 100644
--- a/fs/ext2/namei.c
+++ b/fs/ext2/namei.c
@@ -225,15 +225,16 @@ static int ext2_link (struct dentry * old_dentry, struct inode * dir,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int ext2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap,
-	struct inode * dir, struct dentry * dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ext2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap,
+				 struct inode * dir, struct dentry * dentry,
+				 umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode * inode;
 	int err;
 
 	err = dquot_initialize(dir);
 	if (err)
-		return err;
+		return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 	inode_inc_link_count(dir);
 
@@ -258,7 +259,7 @@ static int ext2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap,
 
 	d_instantiate_new(dentry, inode);
 out:
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 out_fail:
 	inode_dec_link_count(inode);
diff --git a/fs/ext4/namei.c b/fs/ext4/namei.c
index 536d56d15072..716cc6096870 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/namei.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/namei.c
@@ -3004,19 +3004,19 @@ int ext4_init_new_dir(handle_t *handle, struct inode *dir,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int ext4_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ext4_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	handle_t *handle;
 	struct inode *inode;
 	int err, err2 = 0, credits, retries = 0;
 
 	if (EXT4_DIR_LINK_MAX(dir))
-		return -EMLINK;
+		return ERR_PTR(-EMLINK);
 
 	err = dquot_initialize(dir);
 	if (err)
-		return err;
+		return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 	credits = (EXT4_DATA_TRANS_BLOCKS(dir->i_sb) +
 		   EXT4_INDEX_EXTRA_TRANS_BLOCKS + 3);
@@ -3066,7 +3066,7 @@ static int ext4_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 out_retry:
 	if (err == -ENOSPC && ext4_should_retry_alloc(dir->i_sb, &retries))
 		goto retry;
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/fs/f2fs/namei.c b/fs/f2fs/namei.c
index a278c7da8177..24dca4dc85a9 100644
--- a/fs/f2fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/f2fs/namei.c
@@ -684,23 +684,23 @@ static int f2fs_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int f2fs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *f2fs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct f2fs_sb_info *sbi = F2FS_I_SB(dir);
 	struct inode *inode;
 	int err;
 
 	if (unlikely(f2fs_cp_error(sbi)))
-		return -EIO;
+		return ERR_PTR(-EIO);
 
 	err = f2fs_dquot_initialize(dir);
 	if (err)
-		return err;
+		return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 	inode = f2fs_new_inode(idmap, dir, S_IFDIR | mode, NULL);
 	if (IS_ERR(inode))
-		return PTR_ERR(inode);
+		return ERR_CAST(inode);
 
 	inode->i_op = &f2fs_dir_inode_operations;
 	inode->i_fop = &f2fs_dir_operations;
@@ -722,12 +722,12 @@ static int f2fs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 		f2fs_sync_fs(sbi->sb, 1);
 
 	f2fs_balance_fs(sbi, true);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 
 out_fail:
 	clear_inode_flag(inode, FI_INC_LINK);
 	f2fs_handle_failed_inode(inode);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 static int f2fs_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
diff --git a/fs/fat/namei_msdos.c b/fs/fat/namei_msdos.c
index f06f6ba643cc..23e9b9371ec3 100644
--- a/fs/fat/namei_msdos.c
+++ b/fs/fat/namei_msdos.c
@@ -339,8 +339,8 @@ static int msdos_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 }
 
 /***** Make a directory */
-static int msdos_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *msdos_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct super_block *sb = dir->i_sb;
 	struct fat_slot_info sinfo;
@@ -389,13 +389,13 @@ static int msdos_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	mutex_unlock(&MSDOS_SB(sb)->s_lock);
 	fat_flush_inodes(sb, dir, inode);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 
 out_free:
 	fat_free_clusters(dir, cluster);
 out:
 	mutex_unlock(&MSDOS_SB(sb)->s_lock);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 /***** Unlink a file */
diff --git a/fs/fat/namei_vfat.c b/fs/fat/namei_vfat.c
index 926c26e90ef8..dd910edd2404 100644
--- a/fs/fat/namei_vfat.c
+++ b/fs/fat/namei_vfat.c
@@ -841,8 +841,8 @@ static int vfat_unlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int vfat_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *vfat_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct super_block *sb = dir->i_sb;
 	struct inode *inode;
@@ -877,13 +877,13 @@ static int vfat_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	d_instantiate(dentry, inode);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&MSDOS_SB(sb)->s_lock);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 
 out_free:
 	fat_free_clusters(dir, cluster);
 out:
 	mutex_unlock(&MSDOS_SB(sb)->s_lock);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 static int vfat_get_dotdot_de(struct inode *inode, struct buffer_head **bh,
diff --git a/fs/fuse/dir.c b/fs/fuse/dir.c
index 198862b086ff..5bb65f38bfb8 100644
--- a/fs/fuse/dir.c
+++ b/fs/fuse/dir.c
@@ -898,8 +898,8 @@ static int fuse_tmpfile(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int fuse_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *entry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *fuse_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *entry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct fuse_mkdir_in inarg;
 	struct fuse_mount *fm = get_fuse_mount(dir);
@@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ static int fuse_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	args.in_args[0].value = &inarg;
 	args.in_args[1].size = entry->d_name.len + 1;
 	args.in_args[1].value = entry->d_name.name;
-	return create_new_entry(idmap, fm, &args, dir, entry, S_IFDIR);
+	return ERR_PTR(create_new_entry(idmap, fm, &args, dir, entry, S_IFDIR));
 }
 
 static int fuse_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
diff --git a/fs/gfs2/inode.c b/fs/gfs2/inode.c
index 6fbbaaad1cd0..198a8cbaf5e5 100644
--- a/fs/gfs2/inode.c
+++ b/fs/gfs2/inode.c
@@ -1248,14 +1248,15 @@ static int gfs2_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
  * @dentry: The dentry of the new directory
  * @mode: The mode of the new directory
  *
- * Returns: errno
+ * Returns: the dentry, or ERR_PTR(errno)
  */
 
-static int gfs2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *gfs2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	unsigned dsize = gfs2_max_stuffed_size(GFS2_I(dir));
-	return gfs2_create_inode(dir, dentry, NULL, S_IFDIR | mode, 0, NULL, dsize, 0);
+
+	return ERR_PTR(gfs2_create_inode(dir, dentry, NULL, S_IFDIR | mode, 0, NULL, dsize, 0));
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/fs/hfs/dir.c b/fs/hfs/dir.c
index b75c26045df4..86a6b317b474 100644
--- a/fs/hfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/hfs/dir.c
@@ -219,26 +219,26 @@ static int hfs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
  * in a directory, given the inode for the parent directory and the
  * name (and its length) of the new directory.
  */
-static int hfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *hfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode *inode;
 	int res;
 
 	inode = hfs_new_inode(dir, &dentry->d_name, S_IFDIR | mode);
 	if (!inode)
-		return -ENOMEM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
 	res = hfs_cat_create(inode->i_ino, dir, &dentry->d_name, inode);
 	if (res) {
 		clear_nlink(inode);
 		hfs_delete_inode(inode);
 		iput(inode);
-		return res;
+		return ERR_PTR(res);
 	}
 	d_instantiate(dentry, inode);
 	mark_inode_dirty(inode);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/fs/hfsplus/dir.c b/fs/hfsplus/dir.c
index f5c4b3e31a1c..876bbb80fb4d 100644
--- a/fs/hfsplus/dir.c
+++ b/fs/hfsplus/dir.c
@@ -523,10 +523,10 @@ static int hfsplus_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return hfsplus_mknod(&nop_mnt_idmap, dir, dentry, mode, 0);
 }
 
-static int hfsplus_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-			 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *hfsplus_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				    struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
-	return hfsplus_mknod(&nop_mnt_idmap, dir, dentry, mode | S_IFDIR, 0);
+	return ERR_PTR(hfsplus_mknod(&nop_mnt_idmap, dir, dentry, mode | S_IFDIR, 0));
 }
 
 static int hfsplus_rename(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
diff --git a/fs/hostfs/hostfs_kern.c b/fs/hostfs/hostfs_kern.c
index e0741e468956..ccbb48fe830d 100644
--- a/fs/hostfs/hostfs_kern.c
+++ b/fs/hostfs/hostfs_kern.c
@@ -679,17 +679,17 @@ static int hostfs_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *ino,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int hostfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *ino,
-			struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *hostfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *ino,
+				   struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	char *file;
 	int err;
 
 	if ((file = dentry_name(dentry)) == NULL)
-		return -ENOMEM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 	err = do_mkdir(file, mode);
 	__putname(file);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 static int hostfs_rmdir(struct inode *ino, struct dentry *dentry)
diff --git a/fs/hpfs/namei.c b/fs/hpfs/namei.c
index d0edf9ed33b6..e3cdc421dfba 100644
--- a/fs/hpfs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/hpfs/namei.c
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ static void hpfs_update_directory_times(struct inode *dir)
 	hpfs_write_inode_nolock(dir);
 }
 
-static int hpfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *hpfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	const unsigned char *name = dentry->d_name.name;
 	unsigned len = dentry->d_name.len;
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ static int hpfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	int r;
 	struct hpfs_dirent dee;
 	int err;
-	if ((err = hpfs_chk_name(name, &len))) return err==-ENOENT ? -EINVAL : err;
+	if ((err = hpfs_chk_name(name, &len))) return ERR_PTR(err==-ENOENT ? -EINVAL : err);
 	hpfs_lock(dir->i_sb);
 	err = -ENOSPC;
 	fnode = hpfs_alloc_fnode(dir->i_sb, hpfs_i(dir)->i_dno, &fno, &bh);
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ static int hpfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	hpfs_update_directory_times(dir);
 	d_instantiate(dentry, result);
 	hpfs_unlock(dir->i_sb);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 bail3:
 	iput(result);
 bail2:
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ static int hpfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	hpfs_free_sectors(dir->i_sb, fno, 1);
 bail:
 	hpfs_unlock(dir->i_sb);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 static int hpfs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
diff --git a/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c b/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c
index 0fc179a59830..d98caedbb723 100644
--- a/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c
@@ -991,14 +991,14 @@ static int hugetlbfs_mknod(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int hugetlbfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-			   struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *hugetlbfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	int retval = hugetlbfs_mknod(idmap, dir, dentry,
 				     mode | S_IFDIR, 0);
 	if (!retval)
 		inc_nlink(dir);
-	return retval;
+	return ERR_PTR(retval);
 }
 
 static int hugetlbfs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
diff --git a/fs/jffs2/dir.c b/fs/jffs2/dir.c
index 2b2938970da3..dd91f725ded6 100644
--- a/fs/jffs2/dir.c
+++ b/fs/jffs2/dir.c
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ static int jffs2_link (struct dentry *,struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 static int jffs2_unlink (struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 static int jffs2_symlink (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,
 			  struct dentry *, const char *);
-static int jffs2_mkdir (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,
-			umode_t);
+static struct dentry *jffs2_mkdir (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,
+				   umode_t);
 static int jffs2_rmdir (struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 static int jffs2_mknod (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,
 			umode_t,dev_t);
@@ -446,8 +446,8 @@ static int jffs2_symlink (struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir_i,
 }
 
 
-static int jffs2_mkdir (struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir_i,
-		        struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *jffs2_mkdir (struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir_i,
+				   struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct jffs2_inode_info *f, *dir_f;
 	struct jffs2_sb_info *c;
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ static int jffs2_mkdir (struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir_i,
 
 	ri = jffs2_alloc_raw_inode();
 	if (!ri)
-		return -ENOMEM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
 	c = JFFS2_SB_INFO(dir_i->i_sb);
 
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ static int jffs2_mkdir (struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir_i,
 
 	if (ret) {
 		jffs2_free_raw_inode(ri);
-		return ret;
+		return ERR_PTR(ret);
 	}
 
 	inode = jffs2_new_inode(dir_i, mode, ri);
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ static int jffs2_mkdir (struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir_i,
 	if (IS_ERR(inode)) {
 		jffs2_free_raw_inode(ri);
 		jffs2_complete_reservation(c);
-		return PTR_ERR(inode);
+		return ERR_CAST(inode);
 	}
 
 	inode->i_op = &jffs2_dir_inode_operations;
@@ -584,11 +584,11 @@ static int jffs2_mkdir (struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir_i,
 	jffs2_complete_reservation(c);
 
 	d_instantiate_new(dentry, inode);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 
  fail:
 	iget_failed(inode);
-	return ret;
+	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }
 
 static int jffs2_rmdir (struct inode *dir_i, struct dentry *dentry)
diff --git a/fs/jfs/namei.c b/fs/jfs/namei.c
index fc8ede43afde..65a218eba8fa 100644
--- a/fs/jfs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/jfs/namei.c
@@ -187,13 +187,13 @@ static int jfs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dip,
  *		dentry	- dentry of child directory
  *		mode	- create mode (rwxrwxrwx).
  *
- * RETURN:	Errors from subroutines
+ * RETURN:	ERR_PTR() of errors from subroutines.
  *
  * note:
  * EACCES: user needs search+write permission on the parent directory
  */
-static int jfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dip,
-		     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *jfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dip,
+				struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	int rc = 0;
 	tid_t tid;		/* transaction id */
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ static int jfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dip,
       out1:
 
 	jfs_info("jfs_mkdir: rc:%d", rc);
-	return rc;
+	return ERR_PTR(rc);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/fs/kernfs/dir.c b/fs/kernfs/dir.c
index 5f0f8b95f44c..d296aad70800 100644
--- a/fs/kernfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/kernfs/dir.c
@@ -1230,24 +1230,24 @@ static struct dentry *kernfs_iop_lookup(struct inode *dir,
 	return d_splice_alias(inode, dentry);
 }
 
-static int kernfs_iop_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
-			    struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
-			    umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *kernfs_iop_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
+				       struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry,
+				       umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct kernfs_node *parent = dir->i_private;
 	struct kernfs_syscall_ops *scops = kernfs_root(parent)->syscall_ops;
 	int ret;
 
 	if (!scops || !scops->mkdir)
-		return -EPERM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-EPERM);
 
 	if (!kernfs_get_active(parent))
-		return -ENODEV;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
 
 	ret = scops->mkdir(parent, dentry->d_name.name, mode);
 
 	kernfs_put_active(parent);
-	return ret;
+	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }
 
 static int kernfs_iop_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
diff --git a/fs/minix/namei.c b/fs/minix/namei.c
index 5d9c1406fe27..8938536d8d3c 100644
--- a/fs/minix/namei.c
+++ b/fs/minix/namei.c
@@ -104,15 +104,15 @@ static int minix_link(struct dentry * old_dentry, struct inode * dir,
 	return add_nondir(dentry, inode);
 }
 
-static int minix_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *minix_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode * inode;
 	int err;
 
 	inode = minix_new_inode(dir, S_IFDIR | mode);
 	if (IS_ERR(inode))
-		return PTR_ERR(inode);
+		return ERR_CAST(inode);
 
 	inode_inc_link_count(dir);
 	minix_set_inode(inode, 0);
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ static int minix_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	d_instantiate(dentry, inode);
 out:
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 out_fail:
 	inode_dec_link_count(inode);
diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index 4677d86f9758..63fe4dc29c23 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -4290,6 +4290,7 @@ int vfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 {
 	int error;
 	unsigned max_links = dir->i_sb->s_max_links;
+	struct dentry *de;
 
 	error = may_create(idmap, dir, dentry);
 	if (error)
@@ -4306,10 +4307,18 @@ int vfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	if (max_links && dir->i_nlink >= max_links)
 		return -EMLINK;
 
-	error = dir->i_op->mkdir(idmap, dir, dentry, mode);
-	if (!error)
+	de = dir->i_op->mkdir(idmap, dir, dentry, mode);
+	if (IS_ERR(de))
+		return PTR_ERR(de);
+	if (de) {
+		fsnotify_mkdir(dir, de);
+		/* Cannot return de yet */
+		dput(de);
+	} else {
 		fsnotify_mkdir(dir, dentry);
-	return error;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(vfs_mkdir);
 
diff --git a/fs/nfs/dir.c b/fs/nfs/dir.c
index 56cf16a72334..101b1098e87b 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/dir.c
@@ -2422,8 +2422,8 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(nfs_mknod);
 /*
  * See comments for nfs_proc_create regarding failed operations.
  */
-int nfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-	      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+struct dentry *nfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+			 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct iattr attr;
 	int error;
@@ -2439,10 +2439,10 @@ int nfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	trace_nfs_mkdir_exit(dir, dentry, error);
 	if (error != 0)
 		goto out_err;
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 out_err:
 	d_drop(dentry);
-	return error;
+	return ERR_PTR(error);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(nfs_mkdir);
 
diff --git a/fs/nfs/internal.h b/fs/nfs/internal.h
index fae2c7ae4acc..1ac1d3eec517 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/internal.h
+++ b/fs/nfs/internal.h
@@ -400,8 +400,8 @@ struct dentry *nfs_lookup(struct inode *, struct dentry *, unsigned int);
 void nfs_d_prune_case_insensitive_aliases(struct inode *inode);
 int nfs_create(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
 	       umode_t, bool);
-int nfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
-	      umode_t);
+struct dentry *nfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
+			 umode_t);
 int nfs_rmdir(struct inode *, struct dentry *);
 int nfs_unlink(struct inode *, struct dentry *);
 int nfs_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
diff --git a/fs/nilfs2/namei.c b/fs/nilfs2/namei.c
index 953fbd5f0851..40f4b1a28705 100644
--- a/fs/nilfs2/namei.c
+++ b/fs/nilfs2/namei.c
@@ -218,8 +218,8 @@ static int nilfs_link(struct dentry *old_dentry, struct inode *dir,
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int nilfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *nilfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode *inode;
 	struct nilfs_transaction_info ti;
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static int nilfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	err = nilfs_transaction_begin(dir->i_sb, &ti, 1);
 	if (err)
-		return err;
+		return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 	inc_nlink(dir);
 
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ static int nilfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	else
 		nilfs_transaction_abort(dir->i_sb);
 
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 out_fail:
 	drop_nlink(inode);
diff --git a/fs/ntfs3/namei.c b/fs/ntfs3/namei.c
index abf7e81584a9..652735a0b0c4 100644
--- a/fs/ntfs3/namei.c
+++ b/fs/ntfs3/namei.c
@@ -201,11 +201,11 @@ static int ntfs_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 /*
  * ntfs_mkdir- inode_operations::mkdir
  */
-static int ntfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ntfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
-	return ntfs_create_inode(idmap, dir, dentry, NULL, S_IFDIR | mode, 0,
-				 NULL, 0, NULL);
+	return ERR_PTR(ntfs_create_inode(idmap, dir, dentry, NULL, S_IFDIR | mode, 0,
+					 NULL, 0, NULL));
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/dlmfs/dlmfs.c b/fs/ocfs2/dlmfs/dlmfs.c
index 2a7f36643895..5130ec44e5e1 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/dlmfs/dlmfs.c
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/dlmfs/dlmfs.c
@@ -402,10 +402,10 @@ static struct inode *dlmfs_get_inode(struct inode *parent,
  * File creation. Allocate an inode, and we're done..
  */
 /* SMP-safe */
-static int dlmfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap,
-		       struct inode * dir,
-		       struct dentry * dentry,
-		       umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *dlmfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap,
+				  struct inode * dir,
+				  struct dentry * dentry,
+				  umode_t mode)
 {
 	int status;
 	struct inode *inode = NULL;
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ static int dlmfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap,
 bail:
 	if (status < 0)
 		iput(inode);
-	return status;
+	return ERR_PTR(status);
 }
 
 static int dlmfs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/namei.c b/fs/ocfs2/namei.c
index 0ec63a1a94b8..99278c8f0e24 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/namei.c
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/namei.c
@@ -644,10 +644,10 @@ static int ocfs2_mknod_locked(struct ocfs2_super *osb,
 				    suballoc_loc, suballoc_bit);
 }
 
-static int ocfs2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
-		       struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry,
-		       umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ocfs2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
+				  struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry,
+				  umode_t mode)
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ static int ocfs2_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	if (ret)
 		mlog_errno(ret);
 
-	return ret;
+	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }
 
 static int ocfs2_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
diff --git a/fs/omfs/dir.c b/fs/omfs/dir.c
index 6bda275826d6..2ed541fccf33 100644
--- a/fs/omfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/omfs/dir.c
@@ -279,10 +279,10 @@ static int omfs_add_node(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int omfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *omfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
-	return omfs_add_node(dir, dentry, mode | S_IFDIR);
+	return ERR_PTR(omfs_add_node(dir, dentry, mode | S_IFDIR));
 }
 
 static int omfs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
diff --git a/fs/orangefs/namei.c b/fs/orangefs/namei.c
index 200558ec72f0..82395fe2b956 100644
--- a/fs/orangefs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/orangefs/namei.c
@@ -300,8 +300,8 @@ static int orangefs_symlink(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int orangefs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-			  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *orangefs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct orangefs_inode_s *parent = ORANGEFS_I(dir);
 	struct orangefs_kernel_op_s *new_op;
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ static int orangefs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	new_op = op_alloc(ORANGEFS_VFS_OP_MKDIR);
 	if (!new_op)
-		return -ENOMEM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
 	new_op->upcall.req.mkdir.parent_refn = parent->refn;
 
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ static int orangefs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	__orangefs_setattr(dir, &iattr);
 out:
 	op_release(new_op);
-	return ret;
+	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }
 
 static int orangefs_rename(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
diff --git a/fs/overlayfs/dir.c b/fs/overlayfs/dir.c
index c9993ff66fc2..21c3aaf7b274 100644
--- a/fs/overlayfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/overlayfs/dir.c
@@ -282,7 +282,8 @@ static int ovl_instantiate(struct dentry *dentry, struct inode *inode,
 		 * XXX: if we ever use ovl_obtain_alias() to decode directory
 		 * file handles, need to use ovl_get_inode_locked() and
 		 * d_instantiate_new() here to prevent from creating two
-		 * hashed directory inode aliases.
+		 * hashed directory inode aliases.  We then need to return
+		 * the obtained alias to ovl_mkdir().
 		 */
 		inode = ovl_get_inode(dentry->d_sb, &oip);
 		if (IS_ERR(inode))
@@ -687,10 +688,10 @@ static int ovl_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return ovl_create_object(dentry, (mode & 07777) | S_IFREG, 0, NULL);
 }
 
-static int ovl_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ovl_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
-	return ovl_create_object(dentry, (mode & 07777) | S_IFDIR, 0, NULL);
+	return ERR_PTR(ovl_create_object(dentry, (mode & 07777) | S_IFDIR, 0, NULL));
 }
 
 static int ovl_mknod(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
diff --git a/fs/ramfs/inode.c b/fs/ramfs/inode.c
index 8006faaaf0ec..775fa905fda0 100644
--- a/fs/ramfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/ramfs/inode.c
@@ -119,13 +119,13 @@ ramfs_mknod(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return error;
 }
 
-static int ramfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ramfs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	int retval = ramfs_mknod(&nop_mnt_idmap, dir, dentry, mode | S_IFDIR, 0);
 	if (!retval)
 		inc_nlink(dir);
-	return retval;
+	return ERR_PTR(retval);
 }
 
 static int ramfs_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
diff --git a/fs/smb/client/cifsfs.h b/fs/smb/client/cifsfs.h
index 831fee962c4d..8dea0cf3a8de 100644
--- a/fs/smb/client/cifsfs.h
+++ b/fs/smb/client/cifsfs.h
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ extern int cifs_unlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry);
 extern int cifs_hardlink(struct dentry *, struct inode *, struct dentry *);
 extern int cifs_mknod(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
 		      umode_t, dev_t);
-extern int cifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
-		      umode_t);
+extern struct dentry *cifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
+				 umode_t);
 extern int cifs_rmdir(struct inode *, struct dentry *);
 extern int cifs_rename2(struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,
 			struct dentry *, struct inode *, struct dentry *,
diff --git a/fs/smb/client/inode.c b/fs/smb/client/inode.c
index 9cc31cf6ebd0..685a176f7f7e 100644
--- a/fs/smb/client/inode.c
+++ b/fs/smb/client/inode.c
@@ -2194,8 +2194,8 @@ cifs_posix_mkdir(struct inode *inode, struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode,
 }
 #endif /* CONFIG_CIFS_ALLOW_INSECURE_LEGACY */
 
-int cifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *inode,
-	       struct dentry *direntry, umode_t mode)
+struct dentry *cifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *inode,
+			  struct dentry *direntry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	int rc = 0;
 	unsigned int xid;
@@ -2211,10 +2211,10 @@ int cifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *inode,
 
 	cifs_sb = CIFS_SB(inode->i_sb);
 	if (unlikely(cifs_forced_shutdown(cifs_sb)))
-		return -EIO;
+		return ERR_PTR(-EIO);
 	tlink = cifs_sb_tlink(cifs_sb);
 	if (IS_ERR(tlink))
-		return PTR_ERR(tlink);
+		return ERR_CAST(tlink);
 	tcon = tlink_tcon(tlink);
 
 	xid = get_xid();
@@ -2270,7 +2270,7 @@ int cifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *inode,
 	free_dentry_path(page);
 	free_xid(xid);
 	cifs_put_tlink(tlink);
-	return rc;
+	return ERR_PTR(rc);
 }
 
 int cifs_rmdir(struct inode *inode, struct dentry *direntry)
diff --git a/fs/sysv/namei.c b/fs/sysv/namei.c
index fb8bd8437872..ba037727c1e6 100644
--- a/fs/sysv/namei.c
+++ b/fs/sysv/namei.c
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ static int sysv_link(struct dentry * old_dentry, struct inode * dir,
 	return add_nondir(dentry, inode);
 }
 
-static int sysv_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		      struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *sysv_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				 struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode * inode;
 	int err;
@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ static int sysv_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	if (err)
 		goto out_fail;
 
-        d_instantiate(dentry, inode);
+	d_instantiate(dentry, inode);
 out:
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 out_fail:
 	inode_dec_link_count(inode);
diff --git a/fs/tracefs/inode.c b/fs/tracefs/inode.c
index 53214499e384..cb1af30b49f5 100644
--- a/fs/tracefs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/tracefs/inode.c
@@ -109,9 +109,9 @@ static char *get_dname(struct dentry *dentry)
 	return name;
 }
 
-static int tracefs_syscall_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
-				 struct inode *inode, struct dentry *dentry,
-				 umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *tracefs_syscall_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
+					    struct inode *inode, struct dentry *dentry,
+					    umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct tracefs_inode *ti;
 	char *name;
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ static int tracefs_syscall_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 
 	name = get_dname(dentry);
 	if (!name)
-		return -ENOMEM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
 	/*
 	 * This is a new directory that does not take the default of
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ static int tracefs_syscall_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 
 	kfree(name);
 
-	return ret;
+	return ERR_PTR(ret);
 }
 
 static int tracefs_syscall_rmdir(struct inode *inode, struct dentry *dentry)
diff --git a/fs/ubifs/dir.c b/fs/ubifs/dir.c
index fda82f3e16e8..3c3d3ad4fa6c 100644
--- a/fs/ubifs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/ubifs/dir.c
@@ -1002,8 +1002,8 @@ static int ubifs_rmdir(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
 	return err;
 }
 
-static int ubifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ubifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode *inode;
 	struct ubifs_inode *dir_ui = ubifs_inode(dir);
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@ static int ubifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	err = ubifs_budget_space(c, &req);
 	if (err)
-		return err;
+		return ERR_PTR(err);
 
 	err = ubifs_prepare_create(dir, dentry, &nm);
 	if (err)
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ static int ubifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	ubifs_release_budget(c, &req);
 	d_instantiate(dentry, inode);
 	fscrypt_free_filename(&nm);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 
 out_cancel:
 	dir->i_size -= sz_change;
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ static int ubifs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	fscrypt_free_filename(&nm);
 out_budg:
 	ubifs_release_budget(c, &req);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 static int ubifs_mknod(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
diff --git a/fs/udf/namei.c b/fs/udf/namei.c
index 2cb49b6b0716..5f2e9a892bff 100644
--- a/fs/udf/namei.c
+++ b/fs/udf/namei.c
@@ -419,8 +419,8 @@ static int udf_mknod(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return udf_add_nondir(dentry, inode);
 }
 
-static int udf_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *udf_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode *inode;
 	struct udf_fileident_iter iter;
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ static int udf_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 
 	inode = udf_new_inode(dir, S_IFDIR | mode);
 	if (IS_ERR(inode))
-		return PTR_ERR(inode);
+		return ERR_CAST(inode);
 
 	iinfo = UDF_I(inode);
 	inode->i_op = &udf_dir_inode_operations;
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ static int udf_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	if (err) {
 		clear_nlink(inode);
 		discard_new_inode(inode);
-		return err;
+		return ERR_PTR(err);
 	}
 	set_nlink(inode, 2);
 	iter.fi.icb.extLength = cpu_to_le32(inode->i_sb->s_blocksize);
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ static int udf_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	if (err) {
 		clear_nlink(inode);
 		discard_new_inode(inode);
-		return err;
+		return ERR_PTR(err);
 	}
 	iter.fi.icb.extLength = cpu_to_le32(inode->i_sb->s_blocksize);
 	iter.fi.icb.extLocation = cpu_to_lelb(iinfo->i_location);
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ static int udf_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	mark_inode_dirty(dir);
 	d_instantiate_new(dentry, inode);
 
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 static int empty_dir(struct inode *dir)
diff --git a/fs/ufs/namei.c b/fs/ufs/namei.c
index 38a024c8cccd..5b3c85c93242 100644
--- a/fs/ufs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/ufs/namei.c
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ static int ufs_link (struct dentry * old_dentry, struct inode * dir,
 	return error;
 }
 
-static int ufs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap, struct inode * dir,
-	struct dentry * dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ufs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap, struct inode * dir,
+				struct dentry * dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode * inode;
 	int err;
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ static int ufs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap, struct inode * dir,
 		goto out_fail;
 
 	d_instantiate_new(dentry, inode);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 
 out_fail:
 	inode_dec_link_count(inode);
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ static int ufs_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap * idmap, struct inode * dir,
 	discard_new_inode(inode);
 out_dir:
 	inode_dec_link_count(dir);
-	return err;
+	return ERR_PTR(err);
 }
 
 static int ufs_unlink(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
diff --git a/fs/vboxsf/dir.c b/fs/vboxsf/dir.c
index a859ac9b74ba..770e29ec3557 100644
--- a/fs/vboxsf/dir.c
+++ b/fs/vboxsf/dir.c
@@ -303,11 +303,11 @@ static int vboxsf_dir_mkfile(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
 	return vboxsf_dir_create(parent, dentry, mode, false, excl, NULL);
 }
 
-static int vboxsf_dir_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
-			    struct inode *parent, struct dentry *dentry,
-			    umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *vboxsf_dir_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap,
+				       struct inode *parent, struct dentry *dentry,
+				       umode_t mode)
 {
-	return vboxsf_dir_create(parent, dentry, mode, true, true, NULL);
+	return ERR_PTR(vboxsf_dir_create(parent, dentry, mode, true, true, NULL));
 }
 
 static int vboxsf_dir_atomic_open(struct inode *parent, struct dentry *dentry,
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_iops.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_iops.c
index 40289fe6f5b2..a4480098d2bf 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_iops.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_iops.c
@@ -298,14 +298,14 @@ xfs_vn_create(
 	return xfs_generic_create(idmap, dir, dentry, mode, 0, NULL);
 }
 
-STATIC int
+STATIC struct dentry *
 xfs_vn_mkdir(
 	struct mnt_idmap	*idmap,
 	struct inode		*dir,
 	struct dentry		*dentry,
 	umode_t			mode)
 {
-	return xfs_generic_create(idmap, dir, dentry, mode | S_IFDIR, 0, NULL);
+	return ERR_PTR(xfs_generic_create(idmap, dir, dentry, mode | S_IFDIR, 0, NULL));
 }
 
 STATIC struct dentry *
diff --git a/include/linux/fs.h b/include/linux/fs.h
index ac5d699e3aab..8f4fbecd40fc 100644
--- a/include/linux/fs.h
+++ b/include/linux/fs.h
@@ -2201,8 +2201,8 @@ struct inode_operations {
 	int (*unlink) (struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 	int (*symlink) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,
 			const char *);
-	int (*mkdir) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,
-		      umode_t);
+	struct dentry *(*mkdir) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,
+				 struct dentry *, umode_t);
 	int (*rmdir) (struct inode *,struct dentry *);
 	int (*mknod) (struct mnt_idmap *, struct inode *,struct dentry *,
 		      umode_t,dev_t);
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/inode.c b/kernel/bpf/inode.c
index 9aaf5124648b..dc3aa91a6ba0 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/inode.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/inode.c
@@ -150,14 +150,14 @@ static void bpf_dentry_finalize(struct dentry *dentry, struct inode *inode,
 	inode_set_mtime_to_ts(dir, inode_set_ctime_current(dir));
 }
 
-static int bpf_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		     struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *bpf_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct inode *inode;
 
 	inode = bpf_get_inode(dir->i_sb, dir, mode | S_IFDIR);
 	if (IS_ERR(inode))
-		return PTR_ERR(inode);
+		return ERR_CAST(inode);
 
 	inode->i_op = &bpf_dir_iops;
 	inode->i_fop = &simple_dir_operations;
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ static int bpf_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	inc_nlink(dir);
 
 	bpf_dentry_finalize(dentry, inode, dir);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 struct map_iter {
diff --git a/mm/shmem.c b/mm/shmem.c
index 4ea6109a8043..00ae0146e768 100644
--- a/mm/shmem.c
+++ b/mm/shmem.c
@@ -3889,16 +3889,16 @@ shmem_tmpfile(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	return error;
 }
 
-static int shmem_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *shmem_mkdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	int error;
 
 	error = shmem_mknod(idmap, dir, dentry, mode | S_IFDIR, 0);
 	if (error)
-		return error;
+		return ERR_PTR(error);
 	inc_nlink(dir);
-	return 0;
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 static int shmem_create(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
diff --git a/security/apparmor/apparmorfs.c b/security/apparmor/apparmorfs.c
index c07d150685d7..6039afae4bfc 100644
--- a/security/apparmor/apparmorfs.c
+++ b/security/apparmor/apparmorfs.c
@@ -1795,8 +1795,8 @@ int __aafs_profile_mkdir(struct aa_profile *profile, struct dentry *parent)
 	return error;
 }
 
-static int ns_mkdir_op(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
-		       struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
+static struct dentry *ns_mkdir_op(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
+				  struct dentry *dentry, umode_t mode)
 {
 	struct aa_ns *ns, *parent;
 	/* TODO: improve permission check */
@@ -1808,7 +1808,7 @@ static int ns_mkdir_op(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 				     AA_MAY_LOAD_POLICY);
 	end_current_label_crit_section(label);
 	if (error)
-		return error;
+		return ERR_PTR(error);
 
 	parent = aa_get_ns(dir->i_private);
 	AA_BUG(d_inode(ns_subns_dir(parent)) != dir);
@@ -1843,7 +1843,7 @@ static int ns_mkdir_op(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, struct inode *dir,
 	mutex_unlock(&parent->lock);
 	aa_put_ns(parent);
 
-	return error;
+	return ERR_PTR(error);
 }
 
 static int ns_rmdir_op(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *dentry)
