--- x/fs/namei.c
+++ y/fs/namei.c
@@ -4198,6 +4198,8 @@ int vfs_rmdir(struct mnt_idmap *idmap, s
 
 	if (!dir->i_op->rmdir)
 		return -EPERM;
+	if (dir == dentry->d_inode)
+		return -EDEADLK;
 
 	dget(dentry);
 	inode_lock(dentry->d_inode);