diff --git a/include/spl/sys/rwlock.h b/include/spl/sys/rwlock.h
index 088e28b44..0ac528e16 100644
--- a/include/spl/sys/rwlock.h
+++ b/include/spl/sys/rwlock.h
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ RW_LOCK_HELD(krwlock_t *rwp)
 }
 
 /*
- * The following functions must be a #define	and not static inline.
+ * The following functions must be a #define and not static inline.
  * This ensures that the native linux semaphore functions (down/up)
  * will be correctly located in the users code which is important
  * for the built in kernel lock analysis tools
@@ -188,10 +188,10 @@ RW_LOCK_HELD(krwlock_t *rwp)
 	spl_rw_set_type(rwp, type);					\
 })
 
-#define	rw_destroy(rwp)							\
-({									\
-	VERIFY(!RW_LOCK_HELD(rwp));					\
-})
+/*
+ * The Linux rwsem implementation does not require a matching destroy.
+ */
+#define	rw_destroy(rwp)		((void) 0)
 
 #define	rw_tryenter(rwp, rw)						\
 ({									\
diff --git a/module/spl/spl-rwlock.c b/module/spl/spl-rwlock.c
index cf03bc593..4ffebc8ea 100644
--- a/module/spl/spl-rwlock.c
+++ b/module/spl/spl-rwlock.c
@@ -35,16 +35,24 @@
 static int
 __rwsem_tryupgrade(struct rw_semaphore *rwsem)
 {
-
+#if defined(READER_BIAS) && defined(WRITER_BIAS)
+	/*
+	 * After the 4.9.20-rt16 kernel the realtime patch series lifted the
+	 * single reader restriction.  While this could be accommodated by
+	 * adding additional compatibility code assume the rwsem can never
+	 * be upgraded.  All caller must already cleanly handle this case.
+	 */
+	return (0);
+#else
 	ASSERT((struct task_struct *)
 	    ((unsigned long)rwsem->lock.owner & ~RT_MUTEX_OWNER_MASKALL) ==
 	    current);
 
 	/*
-	 * Under the realtime patch series, rwsem is implemented as a
-	 * single mutex held by readers and writers alike. However,
-	 * this implementation would prevent a thread from taking a
-	 * read lock twice, as the mutex would already be locked on
+	 * Prior to 4.9.20-rt16 kernel the realtime patch series, rwsem is
+	 * implemented as a single mutex held by readers and writers alike.
+	 * However, this implementation would prevent a thread from taking
+	 * a read lock twice, as the mutex would already be locked on
 	 * the second attempt. Therefore the implementation allows a
 	 * single thread to take a rwsem as read lock multiple times
 	 * tracking that nesting as read_depth counter.
@@ -60,6 +68,7 @@ __rwsem_tryupgrade(struct rw_semaphore *rwsem)
 		return (1);
 	}
 	return (0);
+#endif
 }
 #elif defined(CONFIG_RWSEM_GENERIC_SPINLOCK)
 static int
diff --git a/module/spl/spl-vnode.c b/module/spl/spl-vnode.c
index aebee0a82..b72c4896a 100644
--- a/module/spl/spl-vnode.c
+++ b/module/spl/spl-vnode.c
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ vn_file_cache_destructor(void *buf, void *cdrarg)
 int
 spl_vn_init(void)
 {
-	vn_file_lock = __SPIN_LOCK_UNLOCKED(vn_file_lock);
+	spin_lock_init(&vn_file_lock);
 
 	vn_cache = kmem_cache_create("spl_vn_cache",
 	    sizeof (struct vnode), 64, vn_cache_constructor,