diff --git a/drivers/android/binder.c b/drivers/android/binder.c
index 3007b28206d7..6f7155b8d198 100644
--- a/drivers/android/binder.c
+++ b/drivers/android/binder.c
@@ -3138,7 +3138,6 @@ static void binder_transaction(struct binder_proc *proc,
 		t->buffer = NULL;
 		goto err_binder_alloc_buf_failed;
 	}
-	t->buffer->allow_user_free = 0;
 	t->buffer->debug_id = t->debug_id;
 	t->buffer->transaction = t;
 	t->buffer->target_node = target_node;
@@ -3634,14 +3633,18 @@ static int binder_thread_write(struct binder_proc *proc,
 
 			buffer = binder_alloc_prepare_to_free(&proc->alloc,
 							      data_ptr);
-			if (buffer == NULL) {
-				binder_user_error("%d:%d BC_FREE_BUFFER u%016llx no match\n",
-					proc->pid, thread->pid, (u64)data_ptr);
-				break;
-			}
-			if (!buffer->allow_user_free) {
-				binder_user_error("%d:%d BC_FREE_BUFFER u%016llx matched unreturned buffer\n",
-					proc->pid, thread->pid, (u64)data_ptr);
+			if (IS_ERR_OR_NULL(buffer)) {
+				if (PTR_ERR(buffer) == -EPERM) {
+					binder_user_error(
+						"%d:%d BC_FREE_BUFFER u%016llx matched unreturned or currently freeing buffer\n",
+						proc->pid, thread->pid,
+						(u64)data_ptr);
+				} else {
+					binder_user_error(
+						"%d:%d BC_FREE_BUFFER u%016llx no match\n",
+						proc->pid, thread->pid,
+						(u64)data_ptr);
+				}
 				break;
 			}
 			binder_debug(BINDER_DEBUG_FREE_BUFFER,
diff --git a/drivers/android/binder_alloc.c b/drivers/android/binder_alloc.c
index 1d9db2ef26bd..baecb4bf9d9b 100644
--- a/drivers/android/binder_alloc.c
+++ b/drivers/android/binder_alloc.c
@@ -149,14 +149,12 @@ static struct binder_buffer *binder_alloc_prepare_to_free_locked(
 		else {
 			/*
 			 * Guard against user threads attempting to
-			 * free the buffer twice
+			 * free the buffer when in use by kernel or
+			 * after it's already been freed.
 			 */
-			if (buffer->free_in_progress) {
-				pr_err("%d:%d FREE_BUFFER u%016llx user freed buffer twice\n",
-				       alloc->pid, current->pid, (u64)user_ptr);
-				return NULL;
-			}
-			buffer->free_in_progress = 1;
+			if (!buffer->allow_user_free)
+				return ERR_PTR(-EPERM);
+			buffer->allow_user_free = 0;
 			return buffer;
 		}
 	}
@@ -463,7 +461,7 @@ static struct binder_buffer *binder_alloc_new_buf_locked(
 
 	rb_erase(best_fit, &alloc->free_buffers);
 	buffer->free = 0;
-	buffer->free_in_progress = 0;
+	buffer->allow_user_free = 0;
 	binder_insert_allocated_buffer_locked(alloc, buffer);
 	binder_alloc_debug(BINDER_DEBUG_BUFFER_ALLOC,
 		     "%d: binder_alloc_buf size %zd got %pK\n",
diff --git a/drivers/android/binder_alloc.h b/drivers/android/binder_alloc.h
index 9ef64e563856..fb3238c74c8a 100644
--- a/drivers/android/binder_alloc.h
+++ b/drivers/android/binder_alloc.h
@@ -50,8 +50,7 @@ struct binder_buffer {
 	unsigned free:1;
 	unsigned allow_user_free:1;
 	unsigned async_transaction:1;
-	unsigned free_in_progress:1;
-	unsigned debug_id:28;
+	unsigned debug_id:29;
 
 	struct binder_transaction *transaction;