diff --git a/fs/nfs/nfs4_fs.h b/fs/nfs/nfs4_fs.h
index 50cfc4c..4afdee4 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/nfs4_fs.h
+++ b/fs/nfs/nfs4_fs.h
@@ -183,10 +183,12 @@
 
 
 struct nfs4_exception {
-	long timeout;
-	int retry;
 	struct nfs4_state *state;
 	struct inode *inode;
+	long timeout;
+	unsigned char delay : 1,
+		      recovering : 1,
+		      retry : 1;
 };
 
 struct nfs4_state_recovery_ops {
diff --git a/fs/nfs/nfs4proc.c b/fs/nfs/nfs4proc.c
index 5133bb1..d5c2a46 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/nfs4proc.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/nfs4proc.c
@@ -344,13 +344,16 @@
 /* This is the error handling routine for processes that are allowed
  * to sleep.
  */
-int nfs4_handle_exception(struct nfs_server *server, int errorcode, struct nfs4_exception *exception)
+static int nfs4_do_handle_exception(struct nfs_server *server,
+		int errorcode, struct nfs4_exception *exception)
 {
 	struct nfs_client *clp = server->nfs_client;
 	struct nfs4_state *state = exception->state;
 	struct inode *inode = exception->inode;
 	int ret = errorcode;
 
+	exception->delay = 0;
+	exception->recovering = 0;
 	exception->retry = 0;
 	switch(errorcode) {
 		case 0:
@@ -411,9 +414,9 @@
 			}
 		case -NFS4ERR_GRACE:
 		case -NFS4ERR_DELAY:
-			ret = nfs4_delay(server->client, &exception->timeout);
-			if (ret != 0)
-				break;
+			exception->delay = 1;
+			return 0;
+
 		case -NFS4ERR_RETRY_UNCACHED_REP:
 		case -NFS4ERR_OLD_STATEID:
 			exception->retry = 1;
@@ -434,9 +437,31 @@
 	/* We failed to handle the error */
 	return nfs4_map_errors(ret);
 wait_on_recovery:
-	ret = nfs4_wait_clnt_recover(clp);
-	if (test_bit(NFS_MIG_FAILED, &server->mig_status))
-		return -EIO;
+	exception->recovering = 1;
+	return 0;
+}
+
+/* This is the error handling routine for processes that are allowed
+ * to sleep.
+ */
+int nfs4_handle_exception(struct nfs_server *server, int errorcode, struct nfs4_exception *exception)
+{
+	struct nfs_client *clp = server->nfs_client;
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = nfs4_do_handle_exception(server, errorcode, exception);
+	if (exception->delay) {
+		ret = nfs4_delay(server->client, &exception->timeout);
+		goto out_retry;
+	}
+	if (exception->recovering) {
+		ret = nfs4_wait_clnt_recover(clp);
+		if (test_bit(NFS_MIG_FAILED, &server->mig_status))
+			return -EIO;
+		goto out_retry;
+	}
+	return ret;
+out_retry:
 	if (ret == 0)
 		exception->retry = 1;
 	return ret;