diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c b/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c
index 9690cb4dd588..03c7a4e7b6ba 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c
@@ -1106,6 +1106,8 @@ static ssize_t write_v4_end_grace(struct file *file, char *buf, size_t size)
 		case 'Y':
 		case 'y':
 		case '1':
+			if (nn->nfsd_serv)
+				return -EBUSY;
 			nfsd4_end_grace(nn);
 			break;
 		default: