diff --git a/drivers/dma-buf/sw_sync.c b/drivers/dma-buf/sw_sync.c
index 3c20f1d31cf5..6f09d13be6b6 100644
--- a/drivers/dma-buf/sw_sync.c
+++ b/drivers/dma-buf/sw_sync.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <linux/file.h>
 #include <linux/fs.h>
 #include <linux/uaccess.h>
+#include <linux/panic.h>
 #include <linux/slab.h>
 #include <linux/sync_file.h>
 
@@ -349,6 +350,9 @@ static long sw_sync_ioctl_create_fence(struct sync_timeline *obj,
 	struct sync_file *sync_file;
 	struct sw_sync_create_fence_data data;
 
+	/* SW sync fence are inherently unsafe and can deadlock the kernel */
+	add_taint(TAINT_SOFTLOCKUP, LOCKDEP_STILL_OK);
+
 	if (fd < 0)
 		return fd;