u32 tipc_createport_raw(void *usr_handle,
                        u32 (*dispatcher)(struct tipc_port *, struct sk_buff *),
                        void (*wakeup)(struct tipc_port *),
-                       const u32 importance);
+                       const u32 importance,
+                       struct tipc_port **tp_ptr);
 
 int tipc_reject_msg(struct sk_buff *buf, u32 err);
 
 
 }
 
 /**
- * tipc_createport_raw - create a native TIPC port
+ * tipc_createport_raw - create a generic TIPC port
  *
- * Returns local port reference
+ * Returns port reference, or 0 if unable to create it
+ *
+ * Note: The newly created port is returned in the locked state.
  */
 
 u32 tipc_createport_raw(void *usr_handle,
                        u32 (*dispatcher)(struct tipc_port *, struct sk_buff *),
                        void (*wakeup)(struct tipc_port *),
-                       const u32 importance)
+                       const u32 importance,
+                       struct tipc_port **tp_ptr)
 {
        struct port *p_ptr;
        struct tipc_msg *msg;
                return 0;
        }
 
-       tipc_port_lock(ref);
        p_ptr->publ.usr_handle = usr_handle;
        p_ptr->publ.max_pkt = MAX_PKT_DEFAULT;
        p_ptr->publ.ref = ref;
        INIT_LIST_HEAD(&p_ptr->port_list);
        list_add_tail(&p_ptr->port_list, &ports);
        spin_unlock_bh(&tipc_port_list_lock);
-       tipc_port_unlock(p_ptr);
+       *tp_ptr = &p_ptr->publ;
        return ref;
 }
 
 {
        struct user_port *up_ptr;
        struct port *p_ptr;
+       struct tipc_port *tp_ptr;
        u32 ref;
 
        up_ptr = kmalloc(sizeof(*up_ptr), GFP_ATOMIC);
                warn("Port creation failed, no memory\n");
                return -ENOMEM;
        }
-       ref = tipc_createport_raw(NULL, port_dispatcher, port_wakeup, importance);
-       p_ptr = tipc_port_lock(ref);
-       if (!p_ptr) {
+       ref = tipc_createport_raw(NULL, port_dispatcher, port_wakeup,
+                                 importance, &tp_ptr);
+       if (ref == 0) {
                kfree(up_ptr);
                return -ENOMEM;
        }
+       p_ptr = (struct port *)tp_ptr;
 
        p_ptr->user_port = up_ptr;
        up_ptr->user_ref = user_ref;
 
 /**
  * tipc_ref_acquire - create reference to an object
  *
- * Return a unique reference value which can be translated back to the pointer
- * 'object' at a later time.  Also, pass back a pointer to the lock protecting
- * the object, but without locking it.
+ * Register an object pointer in reference table and lock the object.
+ * Returns a unique reference value that is used from then on to retrieve the
+ * object pointer, or to determine that the object has been deregistered.
+ *
+ * Note: The object is returned in the locked state so that the caller can
+ * register a partially initialized object, without running the risk that
+ * the object will be accessed before initialization is complete.
  */
 
 u32 tipc_ref_acquire(void *object, spinlock_t **lock)
                ref = (next_plus_upper & ~index_mask) + index;
                entry->ref = ref;
                entry->object = object;
-               spin_unlock_bh(&entry->lock);
                *lock = &entry->lock;
        }
        else if (tipc_ref_table.init_point < tipc_ref_table.capacity) {
                index = tipc_ref_table.init_point++;
                entry = &(tipc_ref_table.entries[index]);
                spin_lock_init(&entry->lock);
+               spin_lock_bh(&entry->lock);
                ref = tipc_ref_table.start_mask + index;
                entry->ref = ref;
                entry->object = object;
 
        const struct proto_ops *ops;
        socket_state state;
        struct sock *sk;
+       struct tipc_port *tp_ptr;
        u32 portref;
 
        /* Validate arguments */
        /* Allocate TIPC port for socket to use */
 
        portref = tipc_createport_raw(sk, &dispatch, &wakeupdispatch,
-                                     TIPC_LOW_IMPORTANCE);
+                                     TIPC_LOW_IMPORTANCE, &tp_ptr);
        if (unlikely(portref == 0)) {
                sk_free(sk);
                return -ENOMEM;
        sk->sk_backlog_rcv = backlog_rcv;
        tipc_sk(sk)->p = tipc_get_port(portref);
 
+       spin_unlock_bh(tp_ptr->lock);
+
        if (sock->state == SS_READY) {
                tipc_set_portunreturnable(portref, 1);
                if (sock->type == SOCK_DGRAM)
 
                kfree(subscriber);
                return;
        }
+       spin_unlock_bh(subscriber->lock);
 
        /* Establish a connection to subscriber */