diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
index 6b8857e..b661dc7 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.c
@@ -69,10 +69,10 @@ xfs_inode_hasattr(
 {
 	if (!XFS_IFORK_Q(ip))
 		return 0;
-	if (!ip->i_afp)
+	if (!ip->i_af.if_present)
 		return 0;
-	if (ip->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS &&
-	    ip->i_afp->if_nextents == 0)
+	if (ip->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS &&
+	    ip->i_af.if_nextents == 0)
 		return 0;
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ bool
 xfs_attr_is_leaf(
 	struct xfs_inode	*ip)
 {
-	struct xfs_ifork	*ifp = ip->i_afp;
+	struct xfs_ifork	*ifp = &ip->i_af;
 	struct xfs_iext_cursor	icur;
 	struct xfs_bmbt_irec	imap;
 
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ xfs_attr_get_ilocked(
 	if (!xfs_inode_hasattr(args->dp))
 		return -ENOATTR;
 
-	if (args->dp->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL)
+	if (args->dp->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL)
 		return xfs_attr_shortform_getvalue(args);
 	if (xfs_attr_is_leaf(args->dp))
 		return xfs_attr_leaf_get(args);
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ xfs_attr_try_sf_addname(
 	/*
 	 * Build initial attribute list (if required).
 	 */
-	if (dp->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS)
+	if (dp->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS)
 		xfs_attr_shortform_create(args);
 
 	error = xfs_attr_shortform_addname(args);
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ xfs_attr_lookup(
 	if (!xfs_inode_hasattr(dp))
 		return -ENOATTR;
 
-	if (dp->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL)
+	if (dp->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL)
 		return xfs_attr_sf_findname(args, NULL, NULL);
 
 	if (xfs_attr_is_leaf(dp)) {
@@ -1101,7 +1101,7 @@ static inline int xfs_attr_sf_totsize(struct xfs_inode *dp)
 {
 	struct xfs_attr_shortform *sf;
 
-	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)dp->i_afp->if_u1.if_data;
+	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)dp->i_af.if_u1.if_data;
 	return be16_to_cpu(sf->hdr.totsize);
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.h b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.h
index dfb47fa6..0f100db 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.h
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr.h
@@ -560,9 +560,9 @@ static inline bool
 xfs_attr_is_shortform(
 	struct xfs_inode    *ip)
 {
-	return ip->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL ||
-	       (ip->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS &&
-		ip->i_afp->if_nextents == 0);
+	return ip->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL ||
+	       (ip->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS &&
+		ip->i_af.if_nextents == 0);
 }
 
 static inline enum xfs_delattr_state
@@ -573,10 +573,10 @@ xfs_attr_init_add_state(struct xfs_da_args *args)
 	 * next state, the attribute fork may be null. This can occur only occur
 	 * on a pure remove, but we grab the next state before we check if a
 	 * replace operation is being performed. If we are called from any other
-	 * context, i_afp is guaranteed to exist. Hence if the attr fork is
+	 * context, i_af is guaranteed to exist. Hence if the attr fork is
 	 * null, we were called from a pure remove operation and so we are done.
 	 */
-	if (!args->dp->i_afp)
+	if (!args->dp->i_af.if_present)
 		return XFS_DAS_DONE;
 
 	args->op_flags |= XFS_DA_OP_ADDNAME;
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_leaf.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_leaf.c
index d367087..435c6cc 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_leaf.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_attr_leaf.c
@@ -682,7 +682,7 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_create(
 	struct xfs_da_args	*args)
 {
 	struct xfs_inode	*dp = args->dp;
-	struct xfs_ifork	*ifp = dp->i_afp;
+	struct xfs_ifork	*ifp = &dp->i_af;
 	struct xfs_attr_sf_hdr	*hdr;
 
 	trace_xfs_attr_sf_create(args);
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ xfs_attr_sf_findname(
 	int			end;
 	int			i;
 
-	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)args->dp->i_afp->if_u1.if_data;
+	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)args->dp->i_af.if_u1.if_data;
 	sfe = &sf->list[0];
 	end = sf->hdr.count;
 	for (i = 0; i < end; sfe = xfs_attr_sf_nextentry(sfe),
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_add(
 	mp = dp->i_mount;
 	dp->i_forkoff = forkoff;
 
-	ifp = dp->i_afp;
+	ifp = &dp->i_af;
 	ASSERT(ifp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL);
 	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)ifp->if_u1.if_data;
 	if (xfs_attr_sf_findname(args, &sfe, NULL) == -EEXIST)
@@ -797,11 +797,10 @@ xfs_attr_fork_remove(
 	struct xfs_inode	*ip,
 	struct xfs_trans	*tp)
 {
-	ASSERT(ip->i_afp->if_nextents == 0);
+	ASSERT(ip->i_af.if_nextents == 0);
 
-	xfs_idestroy_fork(ip->i_afp);
-	kmem_cache_free(xfs_ifork_cache, ip->i_afp);
-	ip->i_afp = NULL;
+	xfs_idestroy_fork(&ip->i_af);
+	xfs_ifork_zap_attr(ip);
 	ip->i_forkoff = 0;
 	xfs_trans_log_inode(tp, ip, XFS_ILOG_CORE);
 }
@@ -825,7 +824,7 @@ xfs_attr_sf_removename(
 
 	dp = args->dp;
 	mp = dp->i_mount;
-	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)dp->i_afp->if_u1.if_data;
+	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)dp->i_af.if_u1.if_data;
 
 	error = xfs_attr_sf_findname(args, &sfe, &base);
 
@@ -889,7 +888,7 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_lookup(xfs_da_args_t *args)
 
 	trace_xfs_attr_sf_lookup(args);
 
-	ifp = args->dp->i_afp;
+	ifp = &args->dp->i_af;
 	ASSERT(ifp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL);
 	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)ifp->if_u1.if_data;
 	sfe = &sf->list[0];
@@ -917,8 +916,8 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_getvalue(
 	struct xfs_attr_sf_entry *sfe;
 	int			i;
 
-	ASSERT(args->dp->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL);
-	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)args->dp->i_afp->if_u1.if_data;
+	ASSERT(args->dp->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL);
+	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)args->dp->i_af.if_u1.if_data;
 	sfe = &sf->list[0];
 	for (i = 0; i < sf->hdr.count;
 				sfe = xfs_attr_sf_nextentry(sfe), i++) {
@@ -948,7 +947,7 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_to_leaf(
 	trace_xfs_attr_sf_to_leaf(args);
 
 	dp = args->dp;
-	ifp = dp->i_afp;
+	ifp = &dp->i_af;
 	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)ifp->if_u1.if_data;
 	size = be16_to_cpu(sf->hdr.totsize);
 	tmpbuffer = kmem_alloc(size, 0);
@@ -1055,7 +1054,7 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_verify(
 	int				i;
 	int64_t				size;
 
-	ASSERT(ip->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL);
+	ASSERT(ip->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL);
 	ifp = xfs_ifork_ptr(ip, XFS_ATTR_FORK);
 	sfp = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)ifp->if_u1.if_data;
 	size = ifp->if_bytes;
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_bmap.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_bmap.c
index 3569a67..32dc74a 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_bmap.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_bmap.c
@@ -1041,9 +1041,9 @@ xfs_bmap_add_attrfork(
 	error = xfs_bmap_set_attrforkoff(ip, size, &version);
 	if (error)
 		goto trans_cancel;
-	ASSERT(ip->i_afp == NULL);
+	ASSERT(!ip->i_af.if_present);
 
-	ip->i_afp = xfs_ifork_alloc(XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS, 0);
+	xfs_ifork_init_attr(ip, XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS, 0);
 	logflags = 0;
 	switch (ip->i_df.if_format) {
 	case XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL:
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_buf.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_buf.c
index 3a12bd3..dd11df5 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_buf.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_buf.c
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ xfs_inode_from_disk(
 	xfs_failaddr_t		fa;
 
 	ASSERT(ip->i_cowfp == NULL);
-	ASSERT(ip->i_afp == NULL);
+	ASSERT(!ip->i_af.if_present);
 
 	fa = xfs_dinode_verify(ip->i_mount, ip->i_ino, from);
 	if (fa) {
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ xfs_inode_to_disk_iext_counters(
 {
 	if (xfs_inode_has_large_extent_counts(ip)) {
 		to->di_big_nextents = cpu_to_be64(xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_df));
-		to->di_big_anextents = cpu_to_be32(xfs_ifork_nextents(ip->i_afp));
+		to->di_big_anextents = cpu_to_be32(xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_af));
 		/*
 		 * We might be upgrading the inode to use larger extent counters
 		 * than was previously used. Hence zero the unused field.
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ xfs_inode_to_disk_iext_counters(
 		to->di_nrext64_pad = cpu_to_be16(0);
 	} else {
 		to->di_nextents = cpu_to_be32(xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_df));
-		to->di_anextents = cpu_to_be16(xfs_ifork_nextents(ip->i_afp));
+		to->di_anextents = cpu_to_be16(xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_af));
 	}
 }
 
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ xfs_inode_to_disk(
 	to->di_nblocks = cpu_to_be64(ip->i_nblocks);
 	to->di_extsize = cpu_to_be32(ip->i_extsize);
 	to->di_forkoff = ip->i_forkoff;
-	to->di_aformat = xfs_ifork_format(ip->i_afp);
+	to->di_aformat = xfs_ifork_format(&ip->i_af);
 	to->di_flags = cpu_to_be16(ip->i_diflags);
 
 	if (xfs_has_v3inodes(ip->i_mount)) {
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_fork.c b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_fork.c
index 40016b8..9d5141c 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_fork.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_fork.c
@@ -276,17 +276,30 @@ xfs_dfork_attr_shortform_size(
 	return be16_to_cpu(atp->hdr.totsize);
 }
 
-struct xfs_ifork *
-xfs_ifork_alloc(
+void
+xfs_ifork_init_attr(
+	struct xfs_inode	*ip,
 	enum xfs_dinode_fmt	format,
 	xfs_extnum_t		nextents)
 {
-	struct xfs_ifork	*ifp;
+	ASSERT(!ip->i_af.if_present);
 
-	ifp = kmem_cache_zalloc(xfs_ifork_cache, GFP_NOFS | __GFP_NOFAIL);
-	ifp->if_format = format;
-	ifp->if_nextents = nextents;
-	return ifp;
+	ip->i_af.if_present = 1;
+	ip->i_af.if_format = format;
+	ip->i_af.if_nextents = nextents;
+}
+
+void
+xfs_ifork_zap_attr(
+	struct xfs_inode	*ip)
+{
+	ASSERT(ip->i_af.if_present);
+	ASSERT(ip->i_af.if_broot == NULL);
+	ASSERT(ip->i_af.if_u1.if_data == NULL);
+	ASSERT(ip->i_af.if_height == 0);
+
+	memset(&ip->i_af, 0, sizeof(struct xfs_ifork));
+	ip->i_af.if_format = XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS;
 }
 
 int
@@ -301,9 +314,9 @@ xfs_iformat_attr_fork(
 	 * Initialize the extent count early, as the per-format routines may
 	 * depend on it.
 	 */
-	ip->i_afp = xfs_ifork_alloc(dip->di_aformat, naextents);
+	xfs_ifork_init_attr(ip, dip->di_aformat, naextents);
 
-	switch (ip->i_afp->if_format) {
+	switch (ip->i_af.if_format) {
 	case XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL:
 		error = xfs_iformat_local(ip, dip, XFS_ATTR_FORK,
 				xfs_dfork_attr_shortform_size(dip));
@@ -323,10 +336,8 @@ xfs_iformat_attr_fork(
 		break;
 	}
 
-	if (error) {
-		kmem_cache_free(xfs_ifork_cache, ip->i_afp);
-		ip->i_afp = NULL;
-	}
+	if (error)
+		xfs_ifork_zap_attr(ip);
 	return error;
 }
 
@@ -656,7 +667,7 @@ xfs_iext_state_to_fork(
 	if (state & BMAP_COWFORK)
 		return ip->i_cowfp;
 	else if (state & BMAP_ATTRFORK)
-		return ip->i_afp;
+		return &ip->i_af;
 	return &ip->i_df;
 }
 
@@ -672,6 +683,7 @@ xfs_ifork_init_cow(
 
 	ip->i_cowfp = kmem_cache_zalloc(xfs_ifork_cache,
 				       GFP_NOFS | __GFP_NOFAIL);
+	ip->i_cowfp->if_present = 1;
 	ip->i_cowfp->if_format = XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS;
 }
 
@@ -707,10 +719,10 @@ int
 xfs_ifork_verify_local_attr(
 	struct xfs_inode	*ip)
 {
-	struct xfs_ifork	*ifp = ip->i_afp;
+	struct xfs_ifork	*ifp = &ip->i_af;
 	xfs_failaddr_t		fa;
 
-	if (!ifp)
+	if (!ifp->if_present)
 		fa = __this_address;
 	else
 		fa = xfs_attr_shortform_verify(ip);
diff --git a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_fork.h b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_fork.h
index 50c5fae..63015e9 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_fork.h
+++ b/fs/xfs/libxfs/xfs_inode_fork.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ struct xfs_ifork {
 	xfs_extnum_t		if_nextents;	/* # of extents in this fork */
 	short			if_broot_bytes;	/* bytes allocated for root */
 	int8_t			if_format;	/* format of this fork */
+	int8_t			if_present;	/* 1 if present */
 };
 
 /*
@@ -173,8 +174,9 @@ xfs_dfork_nextents(
 	return 0;
 }
 
-struct xfs_ifork *xfs_ifork_alloc(enum xfs_dinode_fmt format,
-				xfs_extnum_t nextents);
+void xfs_ifork_zap_attr(struct xfs_inode *ip);
+void xfs_ifork_init_attr(struct xfs_inode *ip, enum xfs_dinode_fmt format,
+		xfs_extnum_t nextents);
 struct xfs_ifork *xfs_iext_state_to_fork(struct xfs_inode *ip, int state);
 
 int		xfs_iformat_data_fork(struct xfs_inode *, struct xfs_dinode *);
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_inactive.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_inactive.c
index 2726577..dbe715f 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_inactive.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_inactive.c
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ xfs_attr_inactive(
 	 * removal below.
 	 */
 	if (xfs_inode_hasattr(dp) &&
-	    dp->i_afp->if_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL) {
+	    dp->i_af.if_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL) {
 		error = xfs_attr3_root_inactive(&trans, dp);
 		if (error)
 			goto out_cancel;
@@ -388,10 +388,9 @@ xfs_attr_inactive(
 	xfs_trans_cancel(trans);
 out_destroy_fork:
 	/* kill the in-core attr fork before we drop the inode lock */
-	if (dp->i_afp) {
-		xfs_idestroy_fork(dp->i_afp);
-		kmem_cache_free(xfs_ifork_cache, dp->i_afp);
-		dp->i_afp = NULL;
+	if (dp->i_af.if_present) {
+		xfs_idestroy_fork(&dp->i_af);
+		xfs_ifork_zap_attr(dp);
 	}
 	if (lock_mode)
 		xfs_iunlock(dp, lock_mode);
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_list.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_list.c
index 90a14e8..6a832ee 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_list.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_attr_list.c
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_list(
 	int				sbsize, nsbuf, count, i;
 	int				error = 0;
 
-	ASSERT(dp->i_afp != NULL);
-	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)dp->i_afp->if_u1.if_data;
+	ASSERT(dp->i_af.if_present);
+	sf = (struct xfs_attr_shortform *)dp->i_af.if_u1.if_data;
 	ASSERT(sf != NULL);
 	if (!sf->hdr.count)
 		return 0;
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_list(
 	 */
 	if (context->bufsize == 0 ||
 	    (XFS_ISRESET_CURSOR(cursor) &&
-	     (dp->i_afp->if_bytes + sf->hdr.count * 16) < context->bufsize)) {
+	     (dp->i_af.if_bytes + sf->hdr.count * 16) < context->bufsize)) {
 		for (i = 0, sfe = &sf->list[0]; i < sf->hdr.count; i++) {
 			if (XFS_IS_CORRUPT(context->dp->i_mount,
 					   !xfs_attr_namecheck(sfe->nameval,
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ xfs_attr_shortform_list(
 	for (i = 0, sfe = &sf->list[0]; i < sf->hdr.count; i++) {
 		if (unlikely(
 		    ((char *)sfe < (char *)sf) ||
-		    ((char *)sfe >= ((char *)sf + dp->i_afp->if_bytes)))) {
+		    ((char *)sfe >= ((char *)sf + dp->i_af.if_bytes)))) {
 			XFS_CORRUPTION_ERROR("xfs_attr_shortform_list",
 					     XFS_ERRLEVEL_LOW,
 					     context->dp->i_mount, sfe,
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ xfs_attr_list_ilocked(
 	 */
 	if (!xfs_inode_hasattr(dp))
 		return 0;
-	if (dp->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL)
+	if (dp->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL)
 		return xfs_attr_shortform_list(context);
 	if (xfs_attr_is_leaf(dp))
 		return xfs_attr_leaf_list(context);
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_bmap_util.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_bmap_util.c
index 1ffd5a7..f317586 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_bmap_util.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_bmap_util.c
@@ -1506,15 +1506,15 @@ xfs_swap_extent_forks(
 	/*
 	 * Count the number of extended attribute blocks
 	 */
-	if (XFS_IFORK_Q(ip) && ip->i_afp->if_nextents > 0 &&
-	    ip->i_afp->if_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL) {
+	if (XFS_IFORK_Q(ip) && ip->i_af.if_nextents > 0 &&
+	    ip->i_af.if_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL) {
 		error = xfs_bmap_count_blocks(tp, ip, XFS_ATTR_FORK, &junk,
 				&aforkblks);
 		if (error)
 			return error;
 	}
-	if (XFS_IFORK_Q(tip) && tip->i_afp->if_nextents > 0 &&
-	    tip->i_afp->if_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL) {
+	if (XFS_IFORK_Q(tip) && tip->i_af.if_nextents > 0 &&
+	    tip->i_af.if_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL) {
 		error = xfs_bmap_count_blocks(tp, tip, XFS_ATTR_FORK, &junk,
 				&taforkblks);
 		if (error)
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_icache.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_icache.c
index 0d74d8e..e08dedf 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_icache.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_icache.c
@@ -98,9 +98,11 @@ xfs_inode_alloc(
 	ip->i_ino = ino;
 	ip->i_mount = mp;
 	memset(&ip->i_imap, 0, sizeof(struct xfs_imap));
-	ip->i_afp = NULL;
 	ip->i_cowfp = NULL;
+	memset(&ip->i_af, 0, sizeof(ip->i_af));
+	ip->i_af.if_format = XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS;
 	memset(&ip->i_df, 0, sizeof(ip->i_df));
+	ip->i_df.if_present = 1;
 	ip->i_flags = 0;
 	ip->i_delayed_blks = 0;
 	ip->i_diflags2 = mp->m_ino_geo.new_diflags2;
@@ -130,9 +132,9 @@ xfs_inode_free_callback(
 		break;
 	}
 
-	if (ip->i_afp) {
-		xfs_idestroy_fork(ip->i_afp);
-		kmem_cache_free(xfs_ifork_cache, ip->i_afp);
+	if (ip->i_af.if_present) {
+		xfs_idestroy_fork(&ip->i_af);
+		xfs_ifork_zap_attr(ip);
 	}
 	if (ip->i_cowfp) {
 		xfs_idestroy_fork(ip->i_cowfp);
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.c
index 3aeabaf..f5e5531 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.c
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ xfs_ilock_attr_map_shared(
 {
 	uint			lock_mode = XFS_ILOCK_SHARED;
 
-	if (ip->i_afp && xfs_need_iread_extents(ip->i_afp))
+	if (ip->i_af.if_present && xfs_need_iread_extents(&ip->i_af))
 		lock_mode = XFS_ILOCK_EXCL;
 	xfs_ilock(ip, lock_mode);
 	return lock_mode;
@@ -893,7 +893,7 @@ xfs_init_new_inode(
 	 */
 	if (init_xattrs && xfs_has_attr(mp)) {
 		ip->i_forkoff = xfs_default_attroffset(ip) >> 3;
-		ip->i_afp = xfs_ifork_alloc(XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS, 0);
+		xfs_ifork_init_attr(ip, XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS, 0);
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -1768,7 +1768,7 @@ xfs_inactive(
 			goto out;
 	}
 
-	ASSERT(!ip->i_afp);
+	ASSERT(!ip->i_af.if_present);
 	ASSERT(ip->i_forkoff == 0);
 
 	/*
@@ -3466,13 +3466,13 @@ xfs_iflush(
 			goto flush_out;
 		}
 	}
-	if (XFS_TEST_ERROR(ip->i_df.if_nextents + xfs_ifork_nextents(ip->i_afp) >
+	if (XFS_TEST_ERROR(ip->i_df.if_nextents + xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_af) >
 				ip->i_nblocks, mp, XFS_ERRTAG_IFLUSH_5)) {
 		xfs_alert_tag(mp, XFS_PTAG_IFLUSH,
 			"%s: detected corrupt incore inode %llu, "
 			"total extents = %llu nblocks = %lld, ptr "PTR_FMT,
 			__func__, ip->i_ino,
-			ip->i_df.if_nextents + xfs_ifork_nextents(ip->i_afp),
+			ip->i_df.if_nextents + xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_af),
 			ip->i_nblocks, ip);
 		goto flush_out;
 	}
@@ -3502,7 +3502,8 @@ xfs_iflush(
 	if (ip->i_df.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL &&
 	    xfs_ifork_verify_local_data(ip))
 		goto flush_out;
-	if (ip->i_afp && ip->i_afp->if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL &&
+	if (ip->i_af.if_present &&
+	    ip->i_af.if_format == XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL &&
 	    xfs_ifork_verify_local_attr(ip))
 		goto flush_out;
 
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.h b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.h
index c22b018..045bad6 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.h
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode.h
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ typedef struct xfs_inode {
 	struct xfs_imap		i_imap;		/* location for xfs_imap() */
 
 	/* Extent information. */
-	struct xfs_ifork	*i_afp;		/* attribute fork pointer */
 	struct xfs_ifork	*i_cowfp;	/* copy on write extents */
 	struct xfs_ifork	i_df;		/* data fork */
+	struct xfs_ifork	i_af;		/* attribute fork */
 
 	/* Transaction and locking information. */
 	struct xfs_inode_log_item *i_itemp;	/* logging information */
@@ -86,7 +86,9 @@ xfs_ifork_ptr(
 	case XFS_DATA_FORK:
 		return &ip->i_df;
 	case XFS_ATTR_FORK:
-		return ip->i_afp;
+		if (!ip->i_af.if_present)
+			return NULL;
+		return &ip->i_af;
 	case XFS_COW_FORK:
 		return ip->i_cowfp;
 	default:
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c
index 721def0..77519e6 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_inode_item.c
@@ -92,11 +92,11 @@ xfs_inode_item_attr_fork_size(
 {
 	struct xfs_inode	*ip = iip->ili_inode;
 
-	switch (ip->i_afp->if_format) {
+	switch (ip->i_af.if_format) {
 	case XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS:
 		if ((iip->ili_fields & XFS_ILOG_AEXT) &&
-		    ip->i_afp->if_nextents > 0 &&
-		    ip->i_afp->if_bytes > 0) {
+		    ip->i_af.if_nextents > 0 &&
+		    ip->i_af.if_bytes > 0) {
 			/* worst case, doesn't subtract unused space */
 			*nbytes += XFS_IFORK_ASIZE(ip);
 			*nvecs += 1;
@@ -104,15 +104,15 @@ xfs_inode_item_attr_fork_size(
 		break;
 	case XFS_DINODE_FMT_BTREE:
 		if ((iip->ili_fields & XFS_ILOG_ABROOT) &&
-		    ip->i_afp->if_broot_bytes > 0) {
-			*nbytes += ip->i_afp->if_broot_bytes;
+		    ip->i_af.if_broot_bytes > 0) {
+			*nbytes += ip->i_af.if_broot_bytes;
 			*nvecs += 1;
 		}
 		break;
 	case XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL:
 		if ((iip->ili_fields & XFS_ILOG_ADATA) &&
-		    ip->i_afp->if_bytes > 0) {
-			*nbytes += xlog_calc_iovec_len(ip->i_afp->if_bytes);
+		    ip->i_af.if_bytes > 0) {
+			*nbytes += xlog_calc_iovec_len(ip->i_af.if_bytes);
 			*nvecs += 1;
 		}
 		break;
@@ -237,18 +237,18 @@ xfs_inode_item_format_attr_fork(
 	struct xfs_inode	*ip = iip->ili_inode;
 	size_t			data_bytes;
 
-	switch (ip->i_afp->if_format) {
+	switch (ip->i_af.if_format) {
 	case XFS_DINODE_FMT_EXTENTS:
 		iip->ili_fields &=
 			~(XFS_ILOG_ADATA | XFS_ILOG_ABROOT);
 
 		if ((iip->ili_fields & XFS_ILOG_AEXT) &&
-		    ip->i_afp->if_nextents > 0 &&
-		    ip->i_afp->if_bytes > 0) {
+		    ip->i_af.if_nextents > 0 &&
+		    ip->i_af.if_bytes > 0) {
 			struct xfs_bmbt_rec *p;
 
-			ASSERT(xfs_iext_count(ip->i_afp) ==
-				ip->i_afp->if_nextents);
+			ASSERT(xfs_iext_count(&ip->i_af) ==
+				ip->i_af.if_nextents);
 
 			p = xlog_prepare_iovec(lv, vecp, XLOG_REG_TYPE_IATTR_EXT);
 			data_bytes = xfs_iextents_copy(ip, p, XFS_ATTR_FORK);
@@ -265,13 +265,13 @@ xfs_inode_item_format_attr_fork(
 			~(XFS_ILOG_ADATA | XFS_ILOG_AEXT);
 
 		if ((iip->ili_fields & XFS_ILOG_ABROOT) &&
-		    ip->i_afp->if_broot_bytes > 0) {
-			ASSERT(ip->i_afp->if_broot != NULL);
+		    ip->i_af.if_broot_bytes > 0) {
+			ASSERT(ip->i_af.if_broot != NULL);
 
 			xlog_copy_iovec(lv, vecp, XLOG_REG_TYPE_IATTR_BROOT,
-					ip->i_afp->if_broot,
-					ip->i_afp->if_broot_bytes);
-			ilf->ilf_asize = ip->i_afp->if_broot_bytes;
+					ip->i_af.if_broot,
+					ip->i_af.if_broot_bytes);
+			ilf->ilf_asize = ip->i_af.if_broot_bytes;
 			ilf->ilf_size++;
 		} else {
 			iip->ili_fields &= ~XFS_ILOG_ABROOT;
@@ -282,12 +282,12 @@ xfs_inode_item_format_attr_fork(
 			~(XFS_ILOG_AEXT | XFS_ILOG_ABROOT);
 
 		if ((iip->ili_fields & XFS_ILOG_ADATA) &&
-		    ip->i_afp->if_bytes > 0) {
-			ASSERT(ip->i_afp->if_u1.if_data != NULL);
+		    ip->i_af.if_bytes > 0) {
+			ASSERT(ip->i_af.if_u1.if_data != NULL);
 			xlog_copy_iovec(lv, vecp, XLOG_REG_TYPE_IATTR_LOCAL,
-					ip->i_afp->if_u1.if_data,
-					ip->i_afp->if_bytes);
-			ilf->ilf_asize = (unsigned)ip->i_afp->if_bytes;
+					ip->i_af.if_u1.if_data,
+					ip->i_af.if_bytes);
+			ilf->ilf_asize = (unsigned)ip->i_af.if_bytes;
 			ilf->ilf_size++;
 		} else {
 			iip->ili_fields &= ~XFS_ILOG_ADATA;
@@ -355,11 +355,11 @@ xfs_inode_to_log_dinode_iext_counters(
 {
 	if (xfs_inode_has_large_extent_counts(ip)) {
 		to->di_big_nextents = xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_df);
-		to->di_big_anextents = xfs_ifork_nextents(ip->i_afp);
+		to->di_big_anextents = xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_af);
 		to->di_nrext64_pad = 0;
 	} else {
 		to->di_nextents = xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_df);
-		to->di_anextents = xfs_ifork_nextents(ip->i_afp);
+		to->di_anextents = xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_af);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ xfs_inode_to_log_dinode(
 	to->di_nblocks = ip->i_nblocks;
 	to->di_extsize = ip->i_extsize;
 	to->di_forkoff = ip->i_forkoff;
-	to->di_aformat = xfs_ifork_format(ip->i_afp);
+	to->di_aformat = xfs_ifork_format(&ip->i_af);
 	to->di_flags = ip->i_diflags;
 
 	xfs_copy_dm_fields_to_log_dinode(ip, to);
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_iomap.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_iomap.c
index ccd97cc..eb54fd2 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_iomap.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_iomap.c
@@ -1307,12 +1307,12 @@ xfs_xattr_iomap_begin(
 	lockmode = xfs_ilock_attr_map_shared(ip);
 
 	/* if there are no attribute fork or extents, return ENOENT */
-	if (!XFS_IFORK_Q(ip) || !ip->i_afp->if_nextents) {
+	if (!XFS_IFORK_Q(ip) || !ip->i_af.if_nextents) {
 		error = -ENOENT;
 		goto out_unlock;
 	}
 
-	ASSERT(ip->i_afp->if_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL);
+	ASSERT(ip->i_af.if_format != XFS_DINODE_FMT_LOCAL);
 	error = xfs_bmapi_read(ip, offset_fsb, end_fsb - offset_fsb, &imap,
 			       &nimaps, XFS_BMAPI_ATTRFORK);
 out_unlock:
diff --git a/fs/xfs/xfs_itable.c b/fs/xfs/xfs_itable.c
index f74c9ff..7d1ff28 100644
--- a/fs/xfs/xfs_itable.c
+++ b/fs/xfs/xfs_itable.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ xfs_bulkstat_one_int(
 		buf->bs_extents64 = nextents;
 
 	xfs_bulkstat_health(ip, buf);
-	buf->bs_aextents = xfs_ifork_nextents(ip->i_afp);
+	buf->bs_aextents = xfs_ifork_nextents(&ip->i_af);
 	buf->bs_forkoff = XFS_IFORK_BOFF(ip);
 	buf->bs_version = XFS_BULKSTAT_VERSION_V5;