diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace.c b/kernel/trace/trace.c
index 8d144fd..183b031 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace.c
@@ -8499,6 +8499,34 @@ static void update_tracer_options(struct trace_array *tr)
 	mutex_unlock(&trace_types_lock);
 }
 
+/* Must have trace_types_lock held */
+struct trace_array *trace_array_find(const char *instance)
+{
+	struct trace_array *tr, *found = NULL;
+
+	list_for_each_entry(tr, &ftrace_trace_arrays, list) {
+		if (tr->name && strcmp(tr->name, instance) == 0) {
+			found = tr;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return found;
+}
+
+struct trace_array *trace_array_find_get(const char *instance)
+{
+	struct trace_array *tr;
+
+	mutex_lock(&trace_types_lock);
+	tr = trace_array_find(instance);
+	if (tr)
+		tr->ref++;
+	mutex_unlock(&trace_types_lock);
+
+	return tr;
+}
+
 static struct trace_array *trace_array_create(const char *name)
 {
 	struct trace_array *tr;
@@ -8575,10 +8603,8 @@ static int instance_mkdir(const char *name)
 	mutex_lock(&trace_types_lock);
 
 	ret = -EEXIST;
-	list_for_each_entry(tr, &ftrace_trace_arrays, list) {
-		if (tr->name && strcmp(tr->name, name) == 0)
-			goto out_unlock;
-	}
+	if (trace_array_find(name))
+		goto out_unlock;
 
 	tr = trace_array_create(name);
 
@@ -8706,12 +8732,9 @@ static int instance_rmdir(const char *name)
 	mutex_lock(&trace_types_lock);
 
 	ret = -ENODEV;
-	list_for_each_entry(tr, &ftrace_trace_arrays, list) {
-		if (tr->name && strcmp(tr->name, name) == 0) {
-			ret = __remove_instance(tr);
-			break;
-		}
-	}
+	tr = trace_array_find(name);
+	if (tr)
+		ret = __remove_instance(tr);
 
 	mutex_unlock(&trace_types_lock);
 	mutex_unlock(&event_mutex);