diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
index 4b78c86..5c460f4 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ STATIC int xfs_attr_leaf_hasname(struct xfs_da_args *args, struct xfs_buf **bp);
  */
 STATIC int xfs_attr_node_get(xfs_da_args_t *args);
 STATIC int xfs_attr_node_addname(xfs_da_args_t *args);
-STATIC int xfs_attr_node_removename(xfs_da_args_t *args);
+STATIC int xfs_attr_node_removename(struct xfs_delattr_context *dac);
 STATIC int xfs_attr_node_hasname(xfs_da_args_t *args,
 				 struct xfs_da_state **state);
 STATIC int xfs_attr_fillstate(xfs_da_state_t *state);
@@ -264,6 +264,32 @@ xfs_attr_set_shortform(
 }
 
 /*
+ * Checks to see if a delayed attribute transaction should be rolled.  If so,
+ * also checks for a defer finish.  Transaction is finished and rolled as
+ * needed, and returns true of false if the delayed operation should continue.
+ */
+bool
+xfs_attr_roll_again(
+	struct xfs_delattr_context	*dac,
+	int				*error)
+{
+	struct xfs_da_args              *args = dac->da_args;
+
+	if (*error != -EAGAIN)
+		return false;
+
+	if (dac->flags & XFS_DAC_DEFER_FINISH) {
+		dac->flags &= ~XFS_DAC_DEFER_FINISH;
+		*error = xfs_defer_finish(&args->trans);
+		if (*error)
+			return false;
+	}
+
+	*error = xfs_trans_roll_inode(&args->trans, args->dp);
+	return *error == 0;
+}
+
+/*
  * Set the attribute specified in @args.
  */
 int
@@ -364,23 +390,47 @@ xfs_has_attr(
  */
 int
 xfs_attr_remove_args(
-	struct xfs_da_args      *args)
+	struct xfs_da_args	*args)
 {
-	struct xfs_inode	*dp = args->dp;
-	int			error;
+	int				error = 0;
+	struct xfs_delattr_context	dac = {
+		.da_args	= args,
+	};
+
+	do {
+		error = xfs_attr_remove_iter(&dac);
+	} while (xfs_attr_roll_again(&dac, &error));
+
+	return error;
+}
+
+/*
+ * Remove the attribute specified in @args.
+ *
+ * This function may return -EAGAIN to signal that the transaction needs to be
+ * rolled.  Callers should continue calling this function until they receive a
+ * return value other than -EAGAIN.
+ */
+int
+xfs_attr_remove_iter(
+	struct xfs_delattr_context	*dac)
+{
+	struct xfs_da_args		*args = dac->da_args;
+	struct xfs_inode		*dp = args->dp;
+
+	if (dac->dela_state == XFS_DAS_RM_SHRINK)
+		goto node;
 
 	if (!xfs_inode_hasattr(dp)) {
-		error = -ENOATTR;
+		return -ENOATTR;
 	} else if (dp->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL) {
 		ASSERT(dp->i_afp->if_flags & XFS_IFINLINE);
-		error = xfs_attr_shortform_remove(args);
+		return xfs_attr_shortform_remove(args);
 	} else if (xfs_bmap_one_block(dp, XFS_ATTR_FORK)) {
-		error = xfs_attr_leaf_removename(args);
-	} else {
-		error = xfs_attr_node_removename(args);
+		return xfs_attr_leaf_removename(args);
 	}
-
-	return error;
+node:
+	return  xfs_attr_node_removename(dac);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1177,11 +1227,12 @@ xfs_attr_leaf_mark_incomplete(
  */
 STATIC
 int xfs_attr_node_removename_setup(
-	struct xfs_da_args	*args,
-	struct xfs_da_state	**state)
+	struct xfs_delattr_context	*dac,
+	struct xfs_da_state		**state)
 {
-	int			error;
-	struct xfs_da_state_blk	*blk;
+	struct xfs_da_args		*args = dac->da_args;
+	int				error;
+	struct xfs_da_state_blk		*blk;
 
 	error = xfs_attr_node_hasname(args, state);
 	if (error != -EEXIST)
@@ -1191,6 +1242,13 @@ int xfs_attr_node_removename_setup(
 	ASSERT(blk->bp != NULL);
 	ASSERT(blk->magic == XFS_ATTR_LEAF_MAGIC);
 
+	/*
+	 * Store blk and state in the context incase we need to cycle out the
+	 * transaction
+	 */
+	dac->blk = blk;
+	dac->da_state = *state;
+
 	if (args->rmtblkno > 0) {
 		error = xfs_attr_leaf_mark_incomplete(args, *state);
 		if (error)
@@ -1203,13 +1261,16 @@ int xfs_attr_node_removename_setup(
 }
 
 STATIC int
-xfs_attr_node_remove_rmt(
-	struct xfs_da_args	*args,
-	struct xfs_da_state	*state)
+xfs_attr_node_remove_rmt (
+	struct xfs_delattr_context	*dac,
+	struct xfs_da_state		*state)
 {
-	int			error = 0;
+	int				error = 0;
 
-	error = xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(args);
+	/*
+	 * May return -EAGAIN to request that the caller recall this function
+	 */
+	error = __xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(dac);
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 
@@ -1226,21 +1287,35 @@ xfs_attr_node_remove_rmt(
  * This will involve walking down the Btree, and may involve joining
  * leaf nodes and even joining intermediate nodes up to and including
  * the root node (a special case of an intermediate node).
+ *
+ * This routine is meant to function as either an inline or delayed operation,
+ * and may return -EAGAIN when the transaction needs to be rolled.  Calling
+ * functions will need to handle this, and recall the function until a
+ * successful error code is returned.
  */
 STATIC int
 xfs_attr_node_removename(
-	struct xfs_da_args	*args)
+	struct xfs_delattr_context	*dac)
 {
-	struct xfs_da_state	*state;
-	struct xfs_da_state_blk	*blk;
-	int			retval, error;
-	struct xfs_inode	*dp = args->dp;
+	struct xfs_da_args		*args = dac->da_args;
+	struct xfs_da_state		*state;
+	struct xfs_da_state_blk		*blk;
+	int				retval, error;
+	struct xfs_inode		*dp = args->dp;
 
 	trace_xfs_attr_node_removename(args);
+	state = dac->da_state;
+	blk = dac->blk;
 
-	error = xfs_attr_node_removename_setup(args, &state);
-	if (error)
-		goto out;
+	if (dac->dela_state == XFS_DAS_RM_SHRINK)
+		goto das_rm_shrink;
+
+	if ((dac->flags & XFS_DAC_NODE_RMVNAME_INIT) == 0) {
+		dac->flags |= XFS_DAC_NODE_RMVNAME_INIT;
+		error = xfs_attr_node_removename_setup(dac, &state);
+		if (error)
+			goto out;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * If there is an out-of-line value, de-allocate the blocks.
@@ -1248,8 +1323,13 @@ xfs_attr_node_removename(
 	 * overflow the maximum size of a transaction and/or hit a deadlock.
 	 */
 	if (args->rmtblkno > 0) {
-		error = xfs_attr_node_remove_rmt(args, state);
-		if (error)
+		/*
+		 * May return -EAGAIN. Remove blocks until args->rmtblkno == 0
+		 */
+		error = xfs_attr_node_remove_rmt(dac, state);
+		if (error == -EAGAIN)
+			return error;
+		else if (error)
 			goto out;
 	}
 
@@ -1268,17 +1348,14 @@ xfs_attr_node_removename(
 		error = xfs_da3_join(state);
 		if (error)
 			goto out;
-		error = xfs_defer_finish(&args->trans);
-		if (error)
-			goto out;
-		/*
-		 * Commit the Btree join operation and start a new trans.
-		 */
-		error = xfs_trans_roll_inode(&args->trans, dp);
-		if (error)
-			goto out;
+
+		dac->flags |= XFS_DAC_DEFER_FINISH;
+		dac->dela_state = XFS_DAS_RM_SHRINK;
+		return -EAGAIN;
 	}
 
+das_rm_shrink:
+
 	/*
 	 * If the result is small enough, push it all into the inode.
 	 */
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.h b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.h
index 3e97a93..6c58792 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.h
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.h
@@ -74,6 +74,75 @@ struct xfs_attr_list_context {
 };
 
 
+/*
+ * ========================================================================
+ * Structure used to pass context around among the delayed routines.
+ * ========================================================================
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Below is a state machine diagram for attr remove operations. The  XFS_DAS_*
+ * states indicate places where the function would return -EAGAIN, and then
+ * immediately resume from after being recalled by the calling function. States
+ * marked as a "subroutine state" indicate that they belong to a subroutine, and
+ * so the calling function needs to pass them back to that subroutine to allow
+ * it to finish where it left off. But they otherwise do not have a role in the
+ * calling function other than just passing through.
+ *
+ * xfs_attr_remove_iter()
+ *	  XFS_DAS_RM_SHRINK ─┐
+ *	  (subroutine state) │
+ *	                     └─>xfs_attr_node_removename()
+ *	                                      │
+ *	                                      v
+ *	                                   need to
+ *	                                shrink tree? ─n─┐
+ *	                                      │         │
+ *	                                      y         │
+ *	                                      │         │
+ *	                                      v         │
+ *	                              XFS_DAS_RM_SHRINK │
+ *	                                      │         │
+ *	                                      v         │
+ *	                                     done <─────┘
+ *
+ */
+
+/*
+ * Enum values for xfs_delattr_context.da_state
+ *
+ * These values are used by delayed attribute operations to keep track  of where
+ * they were before they returned -EAGAIN.  A return code of -EAGAIN signals the
+ * calling function to roll the transaction, and then recall the subroutine to
+ * finish the operation.  The enum is then used by the subroutine to jump back
+ * to where it was and resume executing where it left off.
+ */
+enum xfs_delattr_state {
+				      /* Zero is uninitalized */
+	XFS_DAS_RM_SHRINK	= 1,  /* We are shrinking the tree */
+};
+
+/*
+ * Defines for xfs_delattr_context.flags
+ */
+#define XFS_DAC_DEFER_FINISH		0x01 /* finish the transaction */
+#define XFS_DAC_NODE_RMVNAME_INIT	0x02 /* xfs_attr_node_removename init */
+
+/*
+ * Context used for keeping track of delayed attribute operations
+ */
+struct xfs_delattr_context {
+	struct xfs_da_args      *da_args;
+
+	/* Used in xfs_attr_node_removename to roll through removing blocks */
+	struct xfs_da_state     *da_state;
+	struct xfs_da_state_blk *blk;
+
+	/* Used to keep track of current state of delayed operation */
+	unsigned int            flags;
+	enum xfs_delattr_state  dela_state;
+};
+
 /*========================================================================
  * Function prototypes for the kernel.
  *========================================================================*/
@@ -91,6 +160,10 @@ int xfs_attr_set(struct xfs_da_args *args);
 int xfs_attr_set_args(struct xfs_da_args *args);
 int xfs_has_attr(struct xfs_da_args *args);
 int xfs_attr_remove_args(struct xfs_da_args *args);
+int xfs_attr_remove_iter(struct xfs_delattr_context *dac);
+bool xfs_attr_roll_again(struct xfs_delattr_context *dac, int *error);
 bool xfs_attr_namecheck(const void *name, size_t length);
+void xfs_delattr_context_init(struct xfs_delattr_context *dac,
+			      struct xfs_da_args *args);
 
 #endif	/* __XFS_ATTR_H__ */
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_leaf.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_leaf.c
index 351351c..20521bf 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_leaf.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_leaf.c
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 #include "xfs_bmap_btree.h"
 #include "xfs_bmap.h"
 #include "xfs_attr_sf.h"
-#include "xfs_attr_remote.h"
 #include "xfs_attr.h"
+#include "xfs_attr_remote.h"
 #include "xfs_attr_leaf.h"
 #include "xfs_error.h"
 #include "xfs_trace.h"
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_remote.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_remote.c
index 85dca51..20e4605 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_remote.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_remote.c
@@ -676,12 +676,14 @@ xfs_attr_rmtval_invalidate(
  */
 int
 xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(
-	struct xfs_da_args      *args)
+	struct xfs_da_args		*args)
 {
-	xfs_dablk_t		lblkno;
-	int			blkcnt;
-	int			error = 0;
-	int			retval = 0;
+	xfs_dablk_t			lblkno;
+	int				blkcnt;
+	int				error = 0;
+	struct xfs_delattr_context	dac  = {
+		.da_args	= args,
+	};
 
 	trace_xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(args);
 
@@ -691,19 +693,10 @@ xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(
 	lblkno = args->rmtblkno;
 	blkcnt = args->rmtblkcnt;
 	do {
-		retval = __xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(args);
-		if (retval && retval != EAGAIN)
-			return retval;
-
-		/*
-		 * Close out trans and start the next one in the chain.
-		 */
-		error = xfs_trans_roll_inode(&args->trans, args->dp);
-		if (error)
-			return error;
-	} while (retval == -EAGAIN);
+		error = __xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(&dac);
+	} while (xfs_attr_roll_again(&dac, &error));
 
-	return 0;
+	return error;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -713,9 +706,10 @@ xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(
  */
 int
 __xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(
-	struct xfs_da_args	*args)
+	struct xfs_delattr_context	*dac)
 {
-	int			error, done;
+	struct xfs_da_args		*args = dac->da_args;
+	int				error, done;
 
 	/*
 	 * Unmap value blocks for this attr.
@@ -725,12 +719,10 @@ __xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(
 	if (error)
 		return error;
 
-	error = xfs_defer_finish(&args->trans);
-	if (error)
-		return error;
-
-	if (!done)
+	if (!done) {
+		dac->flags |= XFS_DAC_DEFER_FINISH;
 		return -EAGAIN;
+	}
 
 	return error;
 }
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_remote.h b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_remote.h
index 9eee615..002fd30 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_remote.h
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_remote.h
@@ -14,5 +14,5 @@ int xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(struct xfs_da_args *args);
 int xfs_attr_rmtval_stale(struct xfs_inode *ip, struct xfs_bmbt_irec *map,
 		xfs_buf_flags_t incore_flags);
 int xfs_attr_rmtval_invalidate(struct xfs_da_args *args);
-int __xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(struct xfs_da_args *args);
+int __xfs_attr_rmtval_remove(struct xfs_delattr_context *dac);
 #endif /* __XFS_ATTR_REMOTE_H__ */
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_inactive.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_inactive.c
index bfad669..aaa7e66 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_inactive.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_inactive.c
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@
 #include "xfs_da_format.h"
 #include "xfs_da_btree.h"
 #include "xfs_inode.h"
+#include "xfs_attr.h"
 #include "xfs_attr_remote.h"
 #include "xfs_trans.h"
 #include "xfs_bmap.h"
-#include "xfs_attr.h"
 #include "xfs_attr_leaf.h"
 #include "xfs_quota.h"
 #include "xfs_dir2.h"
