--- x/fs/reiserfs/journal.c
+++ y/fs/reiserfs/journal.c
@@ -2614,8 +2614,6 @@ static int journal_init_dev(struct super
 
 	/* there is no "jdev" option and journal is on separate device */
 	if ((!jdev_name || !jdev_name[0])) {
-		if (jdev == super->s_dev)
-			holder = NULL;
 		journal->j_dev_bd = blkdev_get_by_dev(jdev, blkdev_mode, holder,
 						      NULL);
 		if (IS_ERR(journal->j_dev_bd)) {