diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/cell/spufs/inode.c b/arch/powerpc/platforms/cell/spufs/inode.c
index fc1b1c4..e5e5f82 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/cell/spufs/inode.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/cell/spufs/inode.c
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@
 	.llseek		= dcache_dir_lseek,
 	.read		= generic_read_dir,
 	.readdir	= dcache_readdir,
-	.fsync		= simple_sync_file,
+	.fsync		= noop_fsync,
 };
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(spufs_context_fops);
 
diff --git a/fs/adfs/dir.c b/fs/adfs/dir.c
index 23aa52f..f4287e4 100644
--- a/fs/adfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/adfs/dir.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
 	.read		= generic_read_dir,
 	.llseek		= generic_file_llseek,
 	.readdir	= adfs_readdir,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 };
 
 static int
diff --git a/fs/adfs/file.c b/fs/adfs/file.c
index 005ea34..a36da53 100644
--- a/fs/adfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/adfs/file.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 	.read		= do_sync_read,
 	.aio_read	= generic_file_aio_read,
 	.mmap		= generic_file_mmap,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 	.write		= do_sync_write,
 	.aio_write	= generic_file_aio_write,
 	.splice_read	= generic_file_splice_read,
diff --git a/fs/bfs/dir.c b/fs/bfs/dir.c
index 8f73841..d967e05 100644
--- a/fs/bfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/bfs/dir.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
 const struct file_operations bfs_dir_operations = {
 	.read		= generic_read_dir,
 	.readdir	= bfs_readdir,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 	.llseek		= generic_file_llseek,
 };
 
diff --git a/fs/ext2/file.c b/fs/ext2/file.c
index 48bcfc3..d82e7ca 100644
--- a/fs/ext2/file.c
+++ b/fs/ext2/file.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 	struct super_block *sb = file->f_mapping->host->i_sb;
 	struct address_space *mapping = sb->s_bdev->bd_inode->i_mapping;
 
-	ret = simple_fsync(file, datasync);
+	ret = generic_file_fsync(file, datasync);
 	if (ret == -EIO || test_and_clear_bit(AS_EIO, &mapping->flags)) {
 		/* We don't really know where the IO error happened... */
 		ext2_error(sb, __func__,
diff --git a/fs/ext4/fsync.c b/fs/ext4/fsync.c
index 40f3452..592adf2 100644
--- a/fs/ext4/fsync.c
+++ b/fs/ext4/fsync.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 		return ret;
 
 	if (!journal) {
-		ret = simple_fsync(file, datasync);
+		ret = generic_file_fsync(file, datasync);
 		if (!ret && !list_empty(&inode->i_dentry))
 			ext4_sync_parent(inode);
 		return ret;
diff --git a/fs/fat/file.c b/fs/fat/file.c
index 29a5769..8c13b8a 100644
--- a/fs/fat/file.c
+++ b/fs/fat/file.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@
 	struct inode *inode = filp->f_mapping->host;
 	int res, err;
 
-	res = simple_fsync(filp, datasync);
+	res = generic_file_fsync(filp, datasync);
 	err = sync_mapping_buffers(MSDOS_SB(inode->i_sb)->fat_inode->i_mapping);
 
 	return res ? res : err;
diff --git a/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c b/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c
index a0bbd3d..a4e9a7e 100644
--- a/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/hugetlbfs/inode.c
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@
 const struct file_operations hugetlbfs_file_operations = {
 	.read			= hugetlbfs_read,
 	.mmap			= hugetlbfs_file_mmap,
-	.fsync			= simple_sync_file,
+	.fsync			= noop_fsync,
 	.get_unmapped_area	= hugetlb_get_unmapped_area,
 };
 
diff --git a/fs/libfs.c b/fs/libfs.c
index e57ea58..b84d0a7 100644
--- a/fs/libfs.c
+++ b/fs/libfs.c
@@ -58,11 +58,6 @@
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-int simple_sync_file(struct file *file, int datasync)
-{
-	return 0;
-}
- 
 int dcache_dir_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 {
 	static struct qstr cursor_name = {.len = 1, .name = "."};
@@ -190,7 +185,7 @@
 	.llseek		= dcache_dir_lseek,
 	.read		= generic_read_dir,
 	.readdir	= dcache_readdir,
-	.fsync		= simple_sync_file,
+	.fsync		= noop_fsync,
 };
 
 const struct inode_operations simple_dir_inode_operations = {
@@ -851,7 +846,16 @@
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(generic_fh_to_parent);
 
-int simple_fsync(struct file *file, int datasync)
+/**
+ * generic_file_fsync - generic fsync implementation for simple filesystems
+ * @file:	file to synchronize
+ * @datasync:	only synchronize essential metadata if true
+ *
+ * This is a generic implementation of the fsync method for simple
+ * filesystems which track all non-inode metadata in the buffers list
+ * hanging off the address_space structure.
+ */
+int generic_file_fsync(struct file *file, int datasync)
 {
 	struct writeback_control wbc = {
 		.sync_mode = WB_SYNC_ALL,
@@ -872,7 +876,15 @@
 		ret = err;
 	return ret;
 }
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(simple_fsync);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(generic_file_fsync);
+
+/*
+ * No-op implementation of ->fsync for in-memory filesystems.
+ */
+int noop_fsync(struct file *file, int datasync)
+{
+	return 0;
+}
 
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(dcache_dir_close);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(dcache_dir_lseek);
@@ -895,7 +907,7 @@
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(simple_rename);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(simple_rmdir);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(simple_statfs);
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(simple_sync_file);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(noop_fsync);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(simple_unlink);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(simple_read_from_buffer);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(simple_write_to_buffer);
diff --git a/fs/minix/dir.c b/fs/minix/dir.c
index 6198731..aaab97ec 100644
--- a/fs/minix/dir.c
+++ b/fs/minix/dir.c
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 	.llseek		= generic_file_llseek,
 	.read		= generic_read_dir,
 	.readdir	= minix_readdir,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 };
 
 static inline void dir_put_page(struct page *page)
diff --git a/fs/minix/file.c b/fs/minix/file.c
index 3eec3e6..d5320ff 100644
--- a/fs/minix/file.c
+++ b/fs/minix/file.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 	.write		= do_sync_write,
 	.aio_write	= generic_file_aio_write,
 	.mmap		= generic_file_mmap,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 	.splice_read	= generic_file_splice_read,
 };
 
diff --git a/fs/omfs/file.c b/fs/omfs/file.c
index 399487c..6e7a329 100644
--- a/fs/omfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/omfs/file.c
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@
 	.aio_read = generic_file_aio_read,
 	.aio_write = generic_file_aio_write,
 	.mmap = generic_file_mmap,
-	.fsync = simple_fsync,
+	.fsync = generic_file_fsync,
 	.splice_read = generic_file_splice_read,
 };
 
diff --git a/fs/qnx4/dir.c b/fs/qnx4/dir.c
index 3d3fd46..6e8fc62 100644
--- a/fs/qnx4/dir.c
+++ b/fs/qnx4/dir.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 	.llseek		= generic_file_llseek,
 	.read		= generic_read_dir,
 	.readdir	= qnx4_readdir,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 };
 
 const struct inode_operations qnx4_dir_inode_operations =
diff --git a/fs/ramfs/file-mmu.c b/fs/ramfs/file-mmu.c
index 78f613c..5002050 100644
--- a/fs/ramfs/file-mmu.c
+++ b/fs/ramfs/file-mmu.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 	.write		= do_sync_write,
 	.aio_write	= generic_file_aio_write,
 	.mmap		= generic_file_mmap,
-	.fsync		= simple_sync_file,
+	.fsync		= noop_fsync,
 	.splice_read	= generic_file_splice_read,
 	.splice_write	= generic_file_splice_write,
 	.llseek		= generic_file_llseek,
diff --git a/fs/ramfs/file-nommu.c b/fs/ramfs/file-nommu.c
index 5ea4ad8..869f2d8 100644
--- a/fs/ramfs/file-nommu.c
+++ b/fs/ramfs/file-nommu.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 	.aio_read		= generic_file_aio_read,
 	.write			= do_sync_write,
 	.aio_write		= generic_file_aio_write,
-	.fsync			= simple_sync_file,
+	.fsync			= noop_fsync,
 	.splice_read		= generic_file_splice_read,
 	.splice_write		= generic_file_splice_write,
 	.llseek			= generic_file_llseek,
diff --git a/fs/sysv/dir.c b/fs/sysv/dir.c
index 1dabed2..79941e4 100644
--- a/fs/sysv/dir.c
+++ b/fs/sysv/dir.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 	.llseek		= generic_file_llseek,
 	.read		= generic_read_dir,
 	.readdir	= sysv_readdir,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 };
 
 static inline void dir_put_page(struct page *page)
diff --git a/fs/sysv/file.c b/fs/sysv/file.c
index 96340c0..750cc22 100644
--- a/fs/sysv/file.c
+++ b/fs/sysv/file.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 	.write		= do_sync_write,
 	.aio_write	= generic_file_aio_write,
 	.mmap		= generic_file_mmap,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 	.splice_read	= generic_file_splice_read,
 };
 
diff --git a/fs/udf/dir.c b/fs/udf/dir.c
index 1660c81..51552bf 100644
--- a/fs/udf/dir.c
+++ b/fs/udf/dir.c
@@ -211,5 +211,5 @@
 	.read			= generic_read_dir,
 	.readdir		= udf_readdir,
 	.unlocked_ioctl		= udf_ioctl,
-	.fsync			= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync			= generic_file_fsync,
 };
diff --git a/fs/udf/file.c b/fs/udf/file.c
index baae3a7..0660280 100644
--- a/fs/udf/file.c
+++ b/fs/udf/file.c
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@
 	.write			= do_sync_write,
 	.aio_write		= udf_file_aio_write,
 	.release		= udf_release_file,
-	.fsync			= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync			= generic_file_fsync,
 	.splice_read		= generic_file_splice_read,
 	.llseek			= generic_file_llseek,
 };
diff --git a/fs/ufs/dir.c b/fs/ufs/dir.c
index 317a0d4..ec78475 100644
--- a/fs/ufs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/ufs/dir.c
@@ -666,6 +666,6 @@
 const struct file_operations ufs_dir_operations = {
 	.read		= generic_read_dir,
 	.readdir	= ufs_readdir,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 	.llseek		= generic_file_llseek,
 };
diff --git a/fs/ufs/file.c b/fs/ufs/file.c
index a8962ce..d4c30d1 100644
--- a/fs/ufs/file.c
+++ b/fs/ufs/file.c
@@ -42,6 +42,6 @@
 	.aio_write	= generic_file_aio_write,
 	.mmap		= generic_file_mmap,
 	.open           = dquot_file_open,
-	.fsync		= simple_fsync,
+	.fsync		= generic_file_fsync,
 	.splice_read	= generic_file_splice_read,
 };
diff --git a/include/linux/fs.h b/include/linux/fs.h
index eb39e5eb..acf6c52 100644
--- a/include/linux/fs.h
+++ b/include/linux/fs.h
@@ -2348,7 +2348,7 @@
 extern int simple_unlink(struct inode *, struct dentry *);
 extern int simple_rmdir(struct inode *, struct dentry *);
 extern int simple_rename(struct inode *, struct dentry *, struct inode *, struct dentry *);
-extern int simple_sync_file(struct file *, int);
+extern int noop_fsync(struct file *, int);
 extern int simple_empty(struct dentry *);
 extern int simple_readpage(struct file *file, struct page *page);
 extern int simple_write_begin(struct file *file, struct address_space *mapping,
@@ -2373,7 +2373,7 @@
 extern ssize_t simple_write_to_buffer(void *to, size_t available, loff_t *ppos,
 		const void __user *from, size_t count);
 
-extern int simple_fsync(struct file *, int);
+extern int generic_file_fsync(struct file *, int);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MIGRATION
 extern int buffer_migrate_page(struct address_space *,
diff --git a/mm/shmem.c b/mm/shmem.c
index 855eaf5..4daf8ce 100644
--- a/mm/shmem.c
+++ b/mm/shmem.c
@@ -2433,7 +2433,7 @@
 	.write		= do_sync_write,
 	.aio_read	= shmem_file_aio_read,
 	.aio_write	= generic_file_aio_write,
-	.fsync		= simple_sync_file,
+	.fsync		= noop_fsync,
 	.splice_read	= generic_file_splice_read,
 	.splice_write	= generic_file_splice_write,
 #endif