diff --git a/fs/orangefs/orangefs-mod.c b/fs/orangefs/orangefs-mod.c
index cac52a9..7434fa0 100644
--- a/fs/orangefs/orangefs-mod.c
+++ b/fs/orangefs/orangefs-mod.c
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
 module_param(slot_timeout_secs, int, 0);
 
 /* synchronizes the request device file */
-struct mutex devreq_mutex;
+DEFINE_MUTEX(devreq_mutex);
 
 /*
  * Blocks non-priority requests from being queued for servicing.  This
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
  * for now it's only being used to stall the op addition to the request
  * list
  */
-struct mutex request_mutex;
+DEFINE_MUTEX(request_mutex);
 
 /* hash table for storing operations waiting for matching downcall */
 struct list_head *htable_ops_in_progress;
@@ -160,9 +160,6 @@
 		goto cleanup_kiocb;
 	}
 
-	mutex_init(&devreq_mutex);
-	mutex_init(&request_mutex);
-
 	htable_ops_in_progress =
 	    kcalloc(hash_table_size, sizeof(struct list_head), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!htable_ops_in_progress) {