diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index 778e253..66998b0 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -2948,8 +2948,14 @@
 	if (error)
 		goto out2;
 	error = open_check_o_direct(file);
-	if (error)
+	if (error) {
 		fput(file);
+	} else if (!(op->open_flag & O_EXCL)) {
+		struct inode *inode = file_inode(file);
+		spin_lock(&inode->i_lock);
+		inode->i_state |= I_LINKABLE;
+		spin_unlock(&inode->i_lock);
+	}
 out2:
 	mnt_drop_write(nd->path.mnt);
 out:
@@ -3628,12 +3634,18 @@
 
 	mutex_lock(&inode->i_mutex);
 	/* Make sure we don't allow creating hardlink to an unlinked file */
-	if (inode->i_nlink == 0)
+	if (inode->i_nlink == 0 && !(inode->i_state & I_LINKABLE))
 		error =  -ENOENT;
 	else if (max_links && inode->i_nlink >= max_links)
 		error = -EMLINK;
 	else
 		error = dir->i_op->link(old_dentry, dir, new_dentry);
+
+	if (!error && (inode->i_state & I_LINKABLE)) {
+		spin_lock(&inode->i_lock);
+		inode->i_state &= ~I_LINKABLE;
+		spin_unlock(&inode->i_lock);
+	}
 	mutex_unlock(&inode->i_mutex);
 	if (!error)
 		fsnotify_link(dir, inode, new_dentry);