diff --git a/Documentation/security/credentials.rst b/Documentation/security/credentials.rst
index 357328d566c8..2aa0791bcefe 100644
--- a/Documentation/security/credentials.rst
+++ b/Documentation/security/credentials.rst
@@ -527,11 +527,6 @@ There are some functions to help manage credentials:
      This gets a reference on a live set of credentials, returning a pointer to
      that set of credentials.
 
- - ``struct cred *get_new_cred(struct cred *cred);``
-
-     This gets a reference on a set of credentials that is under construction
-     and is thus still mutable, returning a pointer to that set of credentials.
-
 
 Open File Credentials
 =====================
diff --git a/drivers/crypto/ccp/sev-dev.c b/drivers/crypto/ccp/sev-dev.c
index af018afd9cd7..2e87ca0e292a 100644
--- a/drivers/crypto/ccp/sev-dev.c
+++ b/drivers/crypto/ccp/sev-dev.c
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ static struct file *open_file_as_root(const char *filename, int flags, umode_t m
 	fp = file_open_root(&root, filename, flags, mode);
 	path_put(&root);
 
-	revert_creds(old_cred);
+	put_cred(revert_creds(old_cred));
 
 	return fp;
 }
diff --git a/fs/backing-file.c b/fs/backing-file.c
index cbdad8b68474..763fbe9b72b2 100644
--- a/fs/backing-file.c
+++ b/fs/backing-file.c
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ ssize_t backing_file_read_iter(struct file *file, struct iov_iter *iter,
 	    !(file->f_mode & FMODE_CAN_ODIRECT))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	old_cred = override_creds_light(ctx->cred);
+	old_cred = override_creds(ctx->cred);
 	if (is_sync_kiocb(iocb)) {
 		rwf_t rwf = iocb_to_rw_flags(flags);
 
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ ssize_t backing_file_read_iter(struct file *file, struct iov_iter *iter,
 			backing_aio_cleanup(aio, ret);
 	}
 out:
-	revert_creds_light(old_cred);
+	revert_creds(old_cred);
 
 	if (ctx->accessed)
 		ctx->accessed(iocb->ki_filp);
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ ssize_t backing_file_write_iter(struct file *file, struct iov_iter *iter,
 	 */
 	flags &= ~IOCB_DIO_CALLER_COMP;
 
-	old_cred = override_creds_light(ctx->cred);
+	old_cred = override_creds(ctx->cred);
 	if (is_sync_kiocb(iocb)) {
 		rwf_t rwf = iocb_to_rw_flags(flags);
 
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ ssize_t backing_file_write_iter(struct file *file, struct iov_iter *iter,
 			backing_aio_cleanup(aio, ret);
 	}
 out:
-	revert_creds_light(old_cred);
+	revert_creds(old_cred);
 
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -281,9 +281,9 @@ ssize_t backing_file_splice_read(struct file *in, struct kiocb *iocb,
 	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(!(in->f_mode & FMODE_BACKING)))
 		return -EIO;
 
-	old_cred = override_creds_light(ctx->cred);
+	old_cred = override_creds(ctx->cred);
 	ret = vfs_splice_read(in, &iocb->ki_pos, pipe, len, flags);
-	revert_creds_light(old_cred);
+	revert_creds(old_cred);
 
 	if (ctx->accessed)
 		ctx->accessed(iocb->ki_filp);
@@ -310,11 +310,11 @@ ssize_t backing_file_splice_write(struct pipe_inode_info *pipe,
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
-	old_cred = override_creds_light(ctx->cred);
+	old_cred = override_creds(ctx->cred);
 	file_start_write(out);
 	ret = out->f_op->splice_write(pipe, out, &iocb->ki_pos, len, flags);
 	file_end_write(out);
-	revert_creds_light(old_cred);
+	revert_creds(old_cred);
 
 	if (ctx->end_write)
 		ctx->end_write(iocb, ret);
@@ -338,9 +338,9 @@ int backing_file_mmap(struct file *file, struct vm_area_struct *vma,
 
 	vma_set_file(vma, file);
 
-	old_cred = override_creds_light(ctx->cred);
+	old_cred = override_creds(ctx->cred);
 	ret = call_mmap(vma->vm_file, vma);
-	revert_creds_light(old_cred);
+	revert_creds(old_cred);
 
 	if (ctx->accessed)
 		ctx->accessed(user_file);
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/auth.c b/fs/nfsd/auth.c
index 93e33d1ee891..4dc327e02456 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/auth.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/auth.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ int nfsd_setuser(struct svc_cred *cred, struct svc_export *exp)
 	int flags = nfsexp_flags(cred, exp);
 
 	/* discard any old override before preparing the new set */
-	revert_creds(get_cred(current_real_cred()));
+	put_cred(revert_creds(get_cred(current_real_cred())));
 	new = prepare_creds();
 	if (!new)
 		return -ENOMEM;
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ int nfsd_setuser(struct svc_cred *cred, struct svc_export *exp)
 		new->cap_effective = cap_raise_nfsd_set(new->cap_effective,
 							new->cap_permitted);
 	put_cred(override_creds(new));
-	put_cred(new);
 	return 0;
 
 oom:
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/filecache.c b/fs/nfsd/filecache.c
index a1cdba42c4fa..dc5c9d8e8202 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/filecache.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/filecache.c
@@ -1248,7 +1248,7 @@ nfsd_file_acquire_local(struct net *net, struct svc_cred *cred,
 
 	beres = nfsd_file_do_acquire(NULL, net, cred, client,
 				     fhp, may_flags, NULL, pnf, true);
-	revert_creds(save_cred);
+	put_cred(revert_creds(save_cred));
 	return beres;
 }
 
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfs4recover.c b/fs/nfsd/nfs4recover.c
index 4a765555bf84..7f2ceeb118a4 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfs4recover.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfs4recover.c
@@ -82,14 +82,13 @@ nfs4_save_creds(const struct cred **original_creds)
 	new->fsuid = GLOBAL_ROOT_UID;
 	new->fsgid = GLOBAL_ROOT_GID;
 	*original_creds = override_creds(new);
-	put_cred(new);
 	return 0;
 }
 
 static void
 nfs4_reset_creds(const struct cred *original)
 {
-	revert_creds(original);
+	put_cred(revert_creds(original));
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfsfh.c b/fs/nfsd/nfsfh.c
index 6a831cb242df..98d6459724a7 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfsfh.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfsfh.c
@@ -222,7 +222,6 @@ static __be32 nfsd_set_fh_dentry(struct svc_rqst *rqstp, struct net *net,
 			cap_raise_nfsd_set(new->cap_effective,
 					   new->cap_permitted);
 		put_cred(override_creds(new));
-		put_cred(new);
 	} else {
 		error = nfsd_setuser_and_check_port(rqstp, cred, exp);
 		if (error)
diff --git a/fs/open.c b/fs/open.c
index e6911101fe71..ffcfef67ac86 100644
--- a/fs/open.c
+++ b/fs/open.c
@@ -402,7 +402,6 @@ static bool access_need_override_creds(int flags)
 
 static const struct cred *access_override_creds(void)
 {
-	const struct cred *old_cred;
 	struct cred *override_cred;
 
 	override_cred = prepare_creds();
@@ -447,13 +446,7 @@ static const struct cred *access_override_creds(void)
 	 * freeing.
 	 */
 	override_cred->non_rcu = 1;
-
-	old_cred = override_creds(override_cred);
-
-	/* override_cred() gets its own ref */
-	put_cred(override_cred);
-
-	return old_cred;
+	return override_creds(override_cred);
 }
 
 static long do_faccessat(int dfd, const char __user *filename, int mode, int flags)
@@ -523,7 +516,7 @@ out_path_release:
 	}
 out:
 	if (old_cred)
-		revert_creds(old_cred);
+		put_cred(revert_creds(old_cred));
 
 	return res;
 }
diff --git a/fs/overlayfs/dir.c b/fs/overlayfs/dir.c
index 08e683917d12..c9993ff66fc2 100644
--- a/fs/overlayfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/overlayfs/dir.c
@@ -575,12 +575,12 @@ static const struct cred *ovl_setup_cred_for_create(struct dentry *dentry,
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * Caller is going to match this with revert_creds_light() and drop
+	 * Caller is going to match this with revert_creds() and drop
 	 * referenec on the returned creds.
 	 * We must be called with creator creds already, otherwise we risk
 	 * leaking creds.
 	 */
-	old_cred = override_creds_light(override_cred);
+	old_cred = override_creds(override_cred);
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(old_cred != ovl_creds(dentry->d_sb));
 
 	return override_cred;
diff --git a/fs/overlayfs/util.c b/fs/overlayfs/util.c
index 9aa7493b1e10..0819c739cc2f 100644
--- a/fs/overlayfs/util.c
+++ b/fs/overlayfs/util.c
@@ -65,12 +65,12 @@ const struct cred *ovl_override_creds(struct super_block *sb)
 {
 	struct ovl_fs *ofs = OVL_FS(sb);
 
-	return override_creds_light(ofs->creator_cred);
+	return override_creds(ofs->creator_cred);
 }
 
 void ovl_revert_creds(const struct cred *old_cred)
 {
-	revert_creds_light(old_cred);
+	revert_creds(old_cred);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/fs/smb/server/smb_common.c b/fs/smb/server/smb_common.c
index f51cd0816b1a..425c756bcfb8 100644
--- a/fs/smb/server/smb_common.c
+++ b/fs/smb/server/smb_common.c
@@ -781,10 +781,6 @@ int __ksmbd_override_fsids(struct ksmbd_work *work,
 
 	WARN_ON(work->saved_cred);
 	work->saved_cred = override_creds(cred);
-	if (!work->saved_cred) {
-		abort_creds(cred);
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -796,13 +792,11 @@ int ksmbd_override_fsids(struct ksmbd_work *work)
 void ksmbd_revert_fsids(struct ksmbd_work *work)
 {
 	const struct cred *cred;
-
 	WARN_ON(!work->saved_cred);
 
-	cred = current_cred();
-	revert_creds(work->saved_cred);
-	put_cred(cred);
+	cred = revert_creds(work->saved_cred);
 	work->saved_cred = NULL;
+	put_cred(cred);
 }
 
 __le32 smb_map_generic_desired_access(__le32 daccess)
diff --git a/include/linux/cred.h b/include/linux/cred.h
index e4a3155fe409..0c3c4b16b469 100644
--- a/include/linux/cred.h
+++ b/include/linux/cred.h
@@ -155,8 +155,6 @@ extern struct cred *prepare_creds(void);
 extern struct cred *prepare_exec_creds(void);
 extern int commit_creds(struct cred *);
 extern void abort_creds(struct cred *);
-extern const struct cred *override_creds(const struct cred *);
-extern void revert_creds(const struct cred *);
 extern struct cred *prepare_kernel_cred(struct task_struct *);
 extern int set_security_override(struct cred *, u32);
 extern int set_security_override_from_ctx(struct cred *, const char *);
@@ -172,12 +170,7 @@ static inline bool cap_ambient_invariant_ok(const struct cred *cred)
 					  cred->cap_inheritable));
 }
 
-/*
- * Override creds without bumping reference count. Caller must ensure
- * reference remains valid or has taken reference. Almost always not the
- * interface you want. Use override_creds()/revert_creds() instead.
- */
-static inline const struct cred *override_creds_light(const struct cred *override_cred)
+static inline const struct cred *override_creds(const struct cred *override_cred)
 {
 	const struct cred *old = current->cred;
 
@@ -185,35 +178,12 @@ static inline const struct cred *override_creds_light(const struct cred *overrid
 	return old;
 }
 
-static inline void revert_creds_light(const struct cred *revert_cred)
+static inline const struct cred *revert_creds(const struct cred *revert_cred)
 {
+	const struct cred *override_cred = current->cred;
+
 	rcu_assign_pointer(current->cred, revert_cred);
-}
-
-/**
- * get_new_cred_many - Get references on a new set of credentials
- * @cred: The new credentials to reference
- * @nr: Number of references to acquire
- *
- * Get references on the specified set of new credentials.  The caller must
- * release all acquired references.
- */
-static inline struct cred *get_new_cred_many(struct cred *cred, int nr)
-{
-	atomic_long_add(nr, &cred->usage);
-	return cred;
-}
-
-/**
- * get_new_cred - Get a reference on a new set of credentials
- * @cred: The new credentials to reference
- *
- * Get a reference on the specified set of new credentials.  The caller must
- * release the reference.
- */
-static inline struct cred *get_new_cred(struct cred *cred)
-{
-	return get_new_cred_many(cred, 1);
+	return override_cred;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -236,7 +206,8 @@ static inline const struct cred *get_cred_many(const struct cred *cred, int nr)
 	if (!cred)
 		return cred;
 	nonconst_cred->non_rcu = 0;
-	return get_new_cred_many(nonconst_cred, nr);
+	atomic_long_add(nr, &nonconst_cred->usage);
+	return cred;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/kernel/cred.c b/kernel/cred.c
index da7da250f7c8..9676965c0981 100644
--- a/kernel/cred.c
+++ b/kernel/cred.c
@@ -476,56 +476,6 @@ void abort_creds(struct cred *new)
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(abort_creds);
 
-/**
- * override_creds - Override the current process's subjective credentials
- * @new: The credentials to be assigned
- *
- * Install a set of temporary override subjective credentials on the current
- * process, returning the old set for later reversion.
- */
-const struct cred *override_creds(const struct cred *new)
-{
-	const struct cred *old;
-
-	kdebug("override_creds(%p{%ld})", new,
-	       atomic_long_read(&new->usage));
-
-	/*
-	 * NOTE! This uses 'get_new_cred()' rather than 'get_cred()'.
-	 *
-	 * That means that we do not clear the 'non_rcu' flag, since
-	 * we are only installing the cred into the thread-synchronous
-	 * '->cred' pointer, not the '->real_cred' pointer that is
-	 * visible to other threads under RCU.
-	 */
-	get_new_cred((struct cred *)new);
-	old = override_creds_light(new);
-
-	kdebug("override_creds() = %p{%ld}", old,
-	       atomic_long_read(&old->usage));
-	return old;
-}
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(override_creds);
-
-/**
- * revert_creds - Revert a temporary subjective credentials override
- * @old: The credentials to be restored
- *
- * Revert a temporary set of override subjective credentials to an old set,
- * discarding the override set.
- */
-void revert_creds(const struct cred *old)
-{
-	const struct cred *override = current->cred;
-
-	kdebug("revert_creds(%p{%ld})", old,
-	       atomic_long_read(&old->usage));
-
-	revert_creds_light(old);
-	put_cred(override);
-}
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(revert_creds);
-
 /**
  * cred_fscmp - Compare two credentials with respect to filesystem access.
  * @a: The first credential