diff --git a/fs/inode.c b/fs/inode.c
index 920aa0b..cf70c9c 100644
--- a/fs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/inode.c
@@ -2123,3 +2123,27 @@
 	return timespec_trunc(now, inode->i_sb->s_time_gran);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(current_time);
+
+/*
+ * Generic function to check FS_IOC_SETFLAGS values and reject any invalid
+ * configurations.
+ *
+ * Note: the caller should be holding i_mutex, or else be sure that they have
+ * exclusive access to the inode structure.
+ */
+int vfs_ioc_setflags_prepare(struct inode *inode, unsigned int oldflags,
+			     unsigned int flags)
+{
+	/*
+	 * The IMMUTABLE and APPEND_ONLY flags can only be changed by
+	 * the relevant capability.
+	 *
+	 * This test looks nicer. Thanks to Pauline Middelink
+	 */
+	if ((flags ^ oldflags) & (FS_APPEND_FL | FS_IMMUTABLE_FL) &&
+	    !capable(CAP_LINUX_IMMUTABLE))
+		return -EPERM;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(vfs_ioc_setflags_prepare);