diff --git a/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c b/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c
index c030ae6..8a5c7d5 100644
--- a/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c
+++ b/kernel/hw_breakpoint.c
@@ -243,38 +243,70 @@
  *       ((per_cpu(nr_bp_flexible, *) > 1) + max(per_cpu(nr_cpu_bp_pinned, *))
  *            + max(per_cpu(nr_task_bp_pinned, *))) < HBP_NUM
  */
-int reserve_bp_slot(struct perf_event *bp)
+static int __reserve_bp_slot(struct perf_event *bp)
 {
 	struct bp_busy_slots slots = {0};
-	int ret = 0;
-
-	mutex_lock(&nr_bp_mutex);
 
 	fetch_bp_busy_slots(&slots, bp);
 
 	/* Flexible counters need to keep at least one slot */
-	if (slots.pinned + (!!slots.flexible) == HBP_NUM) {
-		ret = -ENOSPC;
-		goto end;
-	}
+	if (slots.pinned + (!!slots.flexible) == HBP_NUM)
+		return -ENOSPC;
 
 	toggle_bp_slot(bp, true);
 
-end:
+	return 0;
+}
+
+int reserve_bp_slot(struct perf_event *bp)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	mutex_lock(&nr_bp_mutex);
+
+	ret = __reserve_bp_slot(bp);
+
 	mutex_unlock(&nr_bp_mutex);
 
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static void __release_bp_slot(struct perf_event *bp)
+{
+	toggle_bp_slot(bp, false);
+}
+
 void release_bp_slot(struct perf_event *bp)
 {
 	mutex_lock(&nr_bp_mutex);
 
-	toggle_bp_slot(bp, false);
+	__release_bp_slot(bp);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&nr_bp_mutex);
 }
 
+/*
+ * Allow the kernel debugger to reserve breakpoint slots without
+ * taking a lock using the dbg_* variant of for the reserve and
+ * release breakpoint slots.
+ */
+int dbg_reserve_bp_slot(struct perf_event *bp)
+{
+	if (mutex_is_locked(&nr_bp_mutex))
+		return -1;
+
+	return __reserve_bp_slot(bp);
+}
+
+int dbg_release_bp_slot(struct perf_event *bp)
+{
+	if (mutex_is_locked(&nr_bp_mutex))
+		return -1;
+
+	__release_bp_slot(bp);
+
+	return 0;
+}
 
 int register_perf_hw_breakpoint(struct perf_event *bp)
 {