diff --git a/TEST b/TEST
index 376d6eb691..25d04dd01e 100644
--- a/TEST
+++ b/TEST
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 #TEST_ZFSTESTS_ITERS="1"
 #TEST_ZFSTESTS_OPTIONS="-vx"
 #TEST_ZFSTESTS_RUNFILE="linux.run"
-#TEST_ZFSTESTS_TAGS="functional"
+TEST_ZFSTESTS_TAGS="zpool_import,zpool_export,zpool_status,zpool_add"
 
 ### zfsstress
 #TEST_ZFSSTRESS_SKIP="yes"
diff --git a/include/sys/spa.h b/include/sys/spa.h
index aa66d489ef..71013ca6b8 100644
--- a/include/sys/spa.h
+++ b/include/sys/spa.h
@@ -842,6 +842,22 @@ extern kmutex_t spa_namespace_lock;
 extern avl_tree_t spa_namespace_avl;
 extern kcondvar_t spa_namespace_cv;
 
+extern krwlock_t spa_namespace_lite_lock;
+
+extern uint_t spa_namespace_delay_ms;
+/*
+ * Special version of mutex_enter() used for testing the spa_namespace_lock.
+ * It inserts an artificial delay after acquiring the lock to simulate a failure
+ * while holding the lock.  The delay is controlled by the
+ * spa_namespace_lock_delay module param and is only to be used by ZTS.
+ */
+#define	mutex_enter_ns(lock) do { \
+	ASSERT(lock == &spa_namespace_lock); \
+	mutex_enter(lock); \
+	if (unlikely(spa_namespace_delay_ms != 0)) \
+		zfs_msleep(spa_namespace_delay_ms); \
+	} while (0);
+
 /*
  * SPA configuration functions in spa_config.c
  */
@@ -866,9 +882,11 @@ extern int spa_config_parse(spa_t *spa, vdev_t **vdp, nvlist_t *nv,
 
 /* Namespace manipulation */
 extern spa_t *spa_lookup(const char *name);
+extern spa_t *spa_lookup_lite(const char *name);
 extern spa_t *spa_add(const char *name, nvlist_t *config, const char *altroot);
 extern void spa_remove(spa_t *spa);
 extern spa_t *spa_next(spa_t *prev);
+extern spa_t *spa_next_lite(spa_t *prev);
 
 /* Refcount functions */
 extern void spa_open_ref(spa_t *spa, const void *tag);
diff --git a/include/sys/spa_impl.h b/include/sys/spa_impl.h
index 7811abbb9c..91850b1b13 100644
--- a/include/sys/spa_impl.h
+++ b/include/sys/spa_impl.h
@@ -484,6 +484,7 @@ struct spa {
 extern char *spa_config_path;
 extern const char *zfs_deadman_failmode;
 extern uint_t spa_slop_shift;
+extern uint_t spa_namespace_delay_ms;
 extern void spa_taskq_dispatch(spa_t *spa, zio_type_t t, zio_taskq_type_t q,
     task_func_t *func, zio_t *zio, boolean_t cutinline);
 extern void spa_load_spares(spa_t *spa);
diff --git a/include/sys/zfs_context.h b/include/sys/zfs_context.h
index 998eaa5dd8..546589165f 100644
--- a/include/sys/zfs_context.h
+++ b/include/sys/zfs_context.h
@@ -769,6 +769,8 @@ void ksiddomain_rele(ksiddomain_t *);
 		(void) nanosleep(&ts, NULL);				\
 	} while (0)
 
+#define	zfs_msleep(ms) zfs_sleep_until(gethrtime() + (MSEC2NSEC(ms)))
+
 typedef int fstrans_cookie_t;
 
 extern fstrans_cookie_t spl_fstrans_mark(void);
diff --git a/include/sys/zfs_delay.h b/include/sys/zfs_delay.h
index 56ac1f3c43..156d5043bc 100644
--- a/include/sys/zfs_delay.h
+++ b/include/sys/zfs_delay.h
@@ -37,5 +37,6 @@
 			usleep_range(delta_us, delta_us + 100);		\
 		}							\
 	} while (0)
+#define	zfs_msleep(ms) zfs_sleep_until(gethrtime() + (MSEC2NSEC(ms)))
 
 #endif	/* _SYS_FS_ZFS_DELAY_H */
diff --git a/module/os/freebsd/zfs/spa_os.c b/module/os/freebsd/zfs/spa_os.c
index 1b9f1a4ec9..d2b8587d82 100644
--- a/module/os/freebsd/zfs/spa_os.c
+++ b/module/os/freebsd/zfs/spa_os.c
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ spa_import_rootpool(const char *name, bool checkpointrewind)
 	 */
 	config = spa_generate_rootconf(name);
 
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	if (config != NULL) {
 		pname = fnvlist_lookup_string(config, ZPOOL_CONFIG_POOL_NAME);
 		VERIFY0(strcmp(name, pname));
diff --git a/module/os/freebsd/zfs/zfs_ioctl_os.c b/module/os/freebsd/zfs/zfs_ioctl_os.c
index 928cf25e94..61731665d9 100644
--- a/module/os/freebsd/zfs/zfs_ioctl_os.c
+++ b/module/os/freebsd/zfs/zfs_ioctl_os.c
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ zfs_ioc_nextboot(const char *unused, nvlist_t *innvl, nvlist_t *outnvl)
 	    "command", &command) != 0)
 		return (EINVAL);
 
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	spa = spa_by_guid(pool_guid, vdev_guid);
 	if (spa != NULL)
 		strcpy(name, spa_name(spa));
diff --git a/module/zfs/arc.c b/module/zfs/arc.c
index 714a30e863..e7f410c5fc 100644
--- a/module/zfs/arc.c
+++ b/module/zfs/arc.c
@@ -8205,7 +8205,7 @@ l2arc_dev_get_next(void)
 	 * of cache devices (l2arc_dev_mtx).  Once a device has been selected,
 	 * both locks will be dropped and a spa config lock held instead.
 	 */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	mutex_enter(&l2arc_dev_mtx);
 
 	/* if there are no vdevs, there is nothing to do */
diff --git a/module/zfs/mmp.c b/module/zfs/mmp.c
index 7112254275..7e8e9cdf62 100644
--- a/module/zfs/mmp.c
+++ b/module/zfs/mmp.c
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ mmp_signal_all_threads(void)
 {
 	spa_t *spa = NULL;
 
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	while ((spa = spa_next(spa))) {
 		if (spa->spa_state == POOL_STATE_ACTIVE)
 			mmp_signal_thread(spa);
diff --git a/module/zfs/spa.c b/module/zfs/spa.c
index 1a68a09535..e25bad9189 100644
--- a/module/zfs/spa.c
+++ b/module/zfs/spa.c
@@ -1038,7 +1038,7 @@ spa_change_guid(spa_t *spa, const uint64_t *guidp)
 	int error;
 
 	mutex_enter(&spa->spa_vdev_top_lock);
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 
 	if (guidp != NULL) {
 		guid = *guidp;
@@ -5635,7 +5635,7 @@ spa_load_impl(spa_t *spa, spa_import_type_t type, const char **ereport)
 
 	spa_load_note(spa, "LOADED");
 fail:
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	spa->spa_load_thread = NULL;
 	cv_broadcast(&spa_namespace_cv);
 
@@ -5800,7 +5800,7 @@ spa_open_common(const char *pool, spa_t **spapp, const void *tag,
 	 * avoid dsl_dir_open() calling this in the first place.
 	 */
 	if (MUTEX_NOT_HELD(&spa_namespace_lock)) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		locked = B_TRUE;
 	}
 
@@ -5898,6 +5898,46 @@ spa_open_common(const char *pool, spa_t **spapp, const void *tag,
 	return (0);
 }
 
+/*
+ * This is a lightweight version of spa_open_common() used only for getting
+ * stats. It does not use the spa_namespace_lock.
+ *
+ * Returns:
+ *
+ * 0		Success
+ * ENOENT	No pool with that name
+ * EAGAIN	Try doing a spa_open_common() instead
+ *
+ * On failure, *spapp will be set to NULL;
+ */
+static int
+spa_read_config_lite(const char *pool, spa_t **spapp, nvlist_t **config)
+{
+	spa_t *spa;
+	ASSERT(RW_LOCK_HELD(&spa_namespace_lite_lock));
+
+	if ((spa = spa_lookup_lite(pool)) == NULL) {
+		*spapp = NULL;
+		return (SET_ERROR(ENOENT));
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Special case: If the pool isn't initialized yet, then tell the caller
+	 * to call spa_open_common() instead.  That will do the full,
+	 * heavyweight load of spa_t.
+	 */
+	if (spa->spa_state == POOL_STATE_UNINITIALIZED) {
+		*spapp = NULL;
+		return (EAGAIN);
+	}
+
+	if (config != NULL)
+		*config = spa_config_generate(spa, NULL, -1ULL, B_TRUE);
+
+	*spapp = spa;
+	return (0);
+}
+
 int
 spa_open_rewind(const char *name, spa_t **spapp, const void *tag,
     nvlist_t *policy, nvlist_t **config)
@@ -5920,7 +5960,7 @@ spa_inject_addref(char *name)
 {
 	spa_t *spa;
 
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	if ((spa = spa_lookup(name)) == NULL) {
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		return (NULL);
@@ -5934,7 +5974,7 @@ spa_inject_addref(char *name)
 void
 spa_inject_delref(spa_t *spa)
 {
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	spa->spa_inject_ref--;
 	mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 }
@@ -6134,9 +6174,26 @@ spa_get_stats(const char *name, nvlist_t **config,
 {
 	int error;
 	spa_t *spa;
+	boolean_t is_lite = B_TRUE;
 
 	*config = NULL;
-	error = spa_open_common(name, &spa, FTAG, NULL, config);
+
+	rw_enter(&spa_namespace_lite_lock, RW_READER);
+	/*
+	 * First, try a lightweight "read the config".  This will avoid the
+	 * spa_namespace_lock and will work if the pool is already imported.
+	 */
+	error = spa_read_config_lite(name, &spa, config);
+
+	/*
+	 * The pool is in a state where it needs the full, heavyweight,
+	 * spa_open_common().
+	 */
+	if (error == EAGAIN) {
+		rw_exit(&spa_namespace_lite_lock);
+		error = spa_open_common(name, &spa, FTAG, NULL, config);
+		is_lite = B_FALSE;
+	}
 
 	if (spa != NULL) {
 		/*
@@ -6179,14 +6236,21 @@ spa_get_stats(const char *name, nvlist_t **config,
 	 */
 	if (altroot) {
 		if (spa == NULL) {
-			mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
-			spa = spa_lookup(name);
+			if (!is_lite) {
+				mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+				spa = spa_lookup(name);
+			} else {
+				spa = spa_lookup_lite(name);
+			}
+
 			if (spa)
 				spa_altroot(spa, altroot, buflen);
 			else
 				altroot[0] = '\0';
 			spa = NULL;
-			mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
+
+			if (!is_lite)
+				mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		} else {
 			spa_altroot(spa, altroot, buflen);
 		}
@@ -6194,9 +6258,12 @@ spa_get_stats(const char *name, nvlist_t **config,
 
 	if (spa != NULL) {
 		spa_config_exit(spa, SCL_CONFIG, FTAG);
-		spa_close(spa, FTAG);
+		if (!is_lite)
+			spa_close(spa, FTAG);
 	}
 
+	if (is_lite)
+		rw_exit(&spa_namespace_lite_lock);
 	return (error);
 }
 
@@ -6406,7 +6473,7 @@ spa_create(const char *pool, nvlist_t *nvroot, nvlist_t *props,
 	/*
 	 * If this pool already exists, return failure.
 	 */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	if (spa_lookup(poolname) != NULL) {
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		return (SET_ERROR(EEXIST));
@@ -6710,7 +6777,7 @@ spa_import(char *pool, nvlist_t *config, nvlist_t *props, uint64_t flags)
 	/*
 	 * If a pool with this name exists, return failure.
 	 */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	if (spa_lookup(pool) != NULL) {
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		return (SET_ERROR(EEXIST));
@@ -6898,7 +6965,7 @@ spa_tryimport(nvlist_t *tryconfig)
 	(void) snprintf(name, MAXPATHLEN, "%s-%llx-%s",
 	    TRYIMPORT_NAME, (u_longlong_t)(uintptr_t)curthread, poolname);
 
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	spa = spa_add(name, tryconfig, NULL);
 	spa_activate(spa, SPA_MODE_READ);
 	kmem_free(name, MAXPATHLEN);
@@ -7024,7 +7091,7 @@ spa_export_common(const char *pool, int new_state, nvlist_t **oldconfig,
 	if (!(spa_mode_global & SPA_MODE_WRITE))
 		return (SET_ERROR(EROFS));
 
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	if ((spa = spa_lookup(pool)) == NULL) {
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		return (SET_ERROR(ENOENT));
@@ -7048,7 +7115,7 @@ spa_export_common(const char *pool, int new_state, nvlist_t **oldconfig,
 		zvol_remove_minors(spa, spa_name(spa), B_TRUE);
 		taskq_wait(spa->spa_zvol_taskq);
 	}
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	spa->spa_export_thread = curthread;
 	spa_close(spa, FTAG);
 
@@ -7096,7 +7163,7 @@ spa_export_common(const char *pool, int new_state, nvlist_t **oldconfig,
 		if (!force && new_state == POOL_STATE_EXPORTED &&
 		    spa_has_active_shared_spare(spa)) {
 			error = SET_ERROR(EXDEV);
-			mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+			mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 			goto fail;
 		}
 
@@ -7167,7 +7234,7 @@ export_spa:
 	/*
 	 * Take the namespace lock for the actual spa_t removal
 	 */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	if (new_state != POOL_STATE_UNINITIALIZED) {
 		if (!hardforce)
 			spa_write_cachefile(spa, B_TRUE, B_TRUE, B_FALSE);
@@ -7202,6 +7269,7 @@ fail:
 	return (error);
 }
 
+
 /*
  * Destroy a storage pool.
  */
@@ -7408,7 +7476,7 @@ spa_vdev_add(spa_t *spa, nvlist_t *nvroot, boolean_t check_ashift)
 	 */
 	(void) spa_vdev_exit(spa, vd, txg, 0);
 
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	spa_config_update(spa, SPA_CONFIG_UPDATE_POOL);
 	spa_event_notify(spa, NULL, NULL, ESC_ZFS_VDEV_ADD);
 	mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
@@ -8034,7 +8102,7 @@ spa_vdev_detach(spa_t *spa, uint64_t guid, uint64_t pguid, int replace_done)
 	if (unspare) {
 		spa_t *altspa = NULL;
 
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		while ((altspa = spa_next(altspa)) != NULL) {
 			if (altspa->spa_state != POOL_STATE_ACTIVE ||
 			    altspa == spa)
@@ -8043,7 +8111,7 @@ spa_vdev_detach(spa_t *spa, uint64_t guid, uint64_t pguid, int replace_done)
 			spa_open_ref(altspa, FTAG);
 			mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 			(void) spa_vdev_remove(altspa, unspare_guid, B_TRUE);
-			mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+			mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 			spa_close(altspa, FTAG);
 		}
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
@@ -8053,7 +8121,7 @@ spa_vdev_detach(spa_t *spa, uint64_t guid, uint64_t pguid, int replace_done)
 	}
 
 	/* all done with the spa; OK to release */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	spa_close(spa, FTAG);
 	mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 
@@ -8148,7 +8216,7 @@ spa_vdev_initialize(spa_t *spa, nvlist_t *nv, uint64_t cmd_type,
 	 * we can properly assess the vdev state before we commit to
 	 * the initializing operation.
 	 */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 
 	for (nvpair_t *pair = nvlist_next_nvpair(nv, NULL);
 	    pair != NULL; pair = nvlist_next_nvpair(nv, pair)) {
@@ -8269,7 +8337,7 @@ spa_vdev_trim(spa_t *spa, nvlist_t *nv, uint64_t cmd_type, uint64_t rate,
 	 * we can properly assess the vdev state before we commit to
 	 * the TRIM operation.
 	 */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 
 	for (nvpair_t *pair = nvlist_next_nvpair(nv, NULL);
 	    pair != NULL; pair = nvlist_next_nvpair(nv, pair)) {
@@ -8974,7 +9042,7 @@ spa_async_thread(void *arg)
 	if (tasks & SPA_ASYNC_CONFIG_UPDATE) {
 		uint64_t old_space, new_space;
 
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		old_space = metaslab_class_get_space(spa_normal_class(spa));
 		old_space += metaslab_class_get_space(spa_special_class(spa));
 		old_space += metaslab_class_get_space(spa_dedup_class(spa));
@@ -9049,7 +9117,7 @@ spa_async_thread(void *arg)
 		dsl_scan_restart_resilver(dp, 0);
 
 	if (tasks & SPA_ASYNC_INITIALIZE_RESTART) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		spa_config_enter(spa, SCL_CONFIG, FTAG, RW_READER);
 		vdev_initialize_restart(spa->spa_root_vdev);
 		spa_config_exit(spa, SCL_CONFIG, FTAG);
@@ -9057,7 +9125,7 @@ spa_async_thread(void *arg)
 	}
 
 	if (tasks & SPA_ASYNC_TRIM_RESTART) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		spa_config_enter(spa, SCL_CONFIG, FTAG, RW_READER);
 		vdev_trim_restart(spa->spa_root_vdev);
 		spa_config_exit(spa, SCL_CONFIG, FTAG);
@@ -9065,7 +9133,7 @@ spa_async_thread(void *arg)
 	}
 
 	if (tasks & SPA_ASYNC_AUTOTRIM_RESTART) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		spa_config_enter(spa, SCL_CONFIG, FTAG, RW_READER);
 		vdev_autotrim_restart(spa);
 		spa_config_exit(spa, SCL_CONFIG, FTAG);
@@ -9076,7 +9144,7 @@ spa_async_thread(void *arg)
 	 * Kick off L2 cache whole device TRIM.
 	 */
 	if (tasks & SPA_ASYNC_L2CACHE_TRIM) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		spa_config_enter(spa, SCL_CONFIG, FTAG, RW_READER);
 		vdev_trim_l2arc(spa);
 		spa_config_exit(spa, SCL_CONFIG, FTAG);
@@ -9087,7 +9155,7 @@ spa_async_thread(void *arg)
 	 * Kick off L2 cache rebuilding.
 	 */
 	if (tasks & SPA_ASYNC_L2CACHE_REBUILD) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		spa_config_enter(spa, SCL_L2ARC, FTAG, RW_READER);
 		l2arc_spa_rebuild_start(spa);
 		spa_config_exit(spa, SCL_L2ARC, FTAG);
@@ -10292,7 +10360,7 @@ void
 spa_sync_allpools(void)
 {
 	spa_t *spa = NULL;
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	while ((spa = spa_next(spa)) != NULL) {
 		if (spa_state(spa) != POOL_STATE_ACTIVE ||
 		    !spa_writeable(spa) || spa_suspended(spa))
@@ -10300,7 +10368,7 @@ spa_sync_allpools(void)
 		spa_open_ref(spa, FTAG);
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		txg_wait_synced(spa_get_dsl(spa), 0);
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		spa_close(spa, FTAG);
 	}
 	mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
@@ -10450,7 +10518,7 @@ spa_evict_all(void)
 	 * Remove all cached state.  All pools should be closed now,
 	 * so every spa in the AVL tree should be unreferenced.
 	 */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	while ((spa = spa_next(NULL)) != NULL) {
 		/*
 		 * Stop async tasks.  The async thread may need to detach
@@ -10460,7 +10528,7 @@ spa_evict_all(void)
 		spa_open_ref(spa, FTAG);
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		spa_async_suspend(spa);
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		spa_close(spa, FTAG);
 
 		if (spa->spa_state != POOL_STATE_UNINITIALIZED) {
diff --git a/module/zfs/spa_config.c b/module/zfs/spa_config.c
index a77874ea0d..4f35f225fd 100644
--- a/module/zfs/spa_config.c
+++ b/module/zfs/spa_config.c
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ spa_config_load(void)
 	 * Iterate over all elements in the nvlist, creating a new spa_t for
 	 * each one with the specified configuration.
 	 */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	nvpair = NULL;
 	while ((nvpair = nvlist_next_nvpair(nvlist, nvpair)) != NULL) {
 		if (nvpair_type(nvpair) != DATA_TYPE_NVLIST)
@@ -375,12 +375,9 @@ spa_all_configs(uint64_t *generation, nvlist_t **pools)
 	if (*generation == spa_config_generation)
 		return (SET_ERROR(EEXIST));
 
-	int error = mutex_enter_interruptible(&spa_namespace_lock);
-	if (error)
-		return (SET_ERROR(EINTR));
-
+	rw_enter(&spa_namespace_lite_lock, RW_READER);
 	*pools = fnvlist_alloc();
-	while ((spa = spa_next(spa)) != NULL) {
+	while ((spa = spa_next_lite(spa)) != NULL) {
 		if (INGLOBALZONE(curproc) ||
 		    zone_dataset_visible(spa_name(spa), NULL)) {
 			mutex_enter(&spa->spa_props_lock);
@@ -390,7 +387,7 @@ spa_all_configs(uint64_t *generation, nvlist_t **pools)
 		}
 	}
 	*generation = spa_config_generation;
-	mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	rw_exit(&spa_namespace_lite_lock);
 
 	return (0);
 }
diff --git a/module/zfs/spa_misc.c b/module/zfs/spa_misc.c
index 97191e7685..a346362a63 100644
--- a/module/zfs/spa_misc.c
+++ b/module/zfs/spa_misc.c
@@ -238,6 +238,30 @@
 
 avl_tree_t spa_namespace_avl;
 kmutex_t spa_namespace_lock;
+
+/*
+ * The spa_namespace_lock was originally meant to protect the spa_namespace_avl
+ * AVL tree.  The spa_namespace_avl tree held the mappings from pool names to
+ * spa_t's.  So if you wanted to lookup the spa_t for the "tank" pool, you would
+ * do an AVL search for "tank" while holding spa_namespace_lock.
+ *
+ * Over time though the spa_namespace_lock was re-purposed to protect other
+ * critical codepaths in the spa subsystem as well.  In many cases we don't know
+ * what the original authors meant to protect with it, or if they needed it for
+ * read-only or read-write protection.  It is simply "too big and risky to fix
+ * properly".
+ *
+ * The workaround is to add a new lightweight version of the spa_namespace_lock
+ * called spa_namespace_lite_lock.  spa_namespace_lite_lock only protects the
+ * AVL tree, and nothing else.  It can be used for read-only access to the AVL
+ * tree without requiring the spa_namespace_lock.  Calls to spa_lookup_lite()
+ * and spa_next_lite() only need to acquire a reader lock on
+ * spa_namespace_lite_lock; they do not need to also acquire the old
+ * spa_namespace_lock.  This allows us to still run zpool status even if the zfs
+ * module has spa_namespace_lock held. Note that these AVL tree locks only
+ * protect the tree, not the actual spa_t contents.
+ */
+krwlock_t spa_namespace_lite_lock;
 kcondvar_t spa_namespace_cv;
 static const int spa_max_replication_override = SPA_DVAS_PER_BP;
 
@@ -402,6 +426,12 @@ static int spa_cpus_per_allocator = 4;
  */
 const char *zfs_active_allocator = "dynamic";
 
+/*
+ * Add a delay of 'spa_namespace_delay_ms' milliseconds after taking the
+ * spa_namespace lock.  This is only used for ZTS testing.
+ */
+uint_t spa_namespace_delay_ms = 0;
+
 void
 spa_load_failed(spa_t *spa, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
@@ -607,6 +637,30 @@ spa_config_held(spa_t *spa, int locks, krw_t rw)
  * ==========================================================================
  */
 
+spa_t *
+spa_lookup_lite(const char *name)
+{
+	static spa_t search;	/* spa_t is large; don't allocate on stack */
+	spa_t *spa;
+	avl_index_t where;
+	char *cp;
+
+	ASSERT(RW_LOCK_HELD(&spa_namespace_lite_lock));
+
+	(void) strlcpy(search.spa_name, name, sizeof (search.spa_name));
+
+	/*
+	 * If it's a full dataset name, figure out the pool name and
+	 * just use that.
+	 */
+	cp = strpbrk(search.spa_name, "/@#");
+	if (cp != NULL)
+		*cp = '\0';
+
+	spa = avl_find(&spa_namespace_avl, &search, &where);
+	return (spa);
+}
+
 /*
  * Lookup the named spa_t in the AVL tree.  The spa_namespace_lock must be held.
  * Returns NULL if no matching spa_t is found.
@@ -632,7 +686,9 @@ retry:
 	if (cp != NULL)
 		*cp = '\0';
 
+	rw_enter(&spa_namespace_lite_lock, RW_READER);
 	spa = avl_find(&spa_namespace_avl, &search, &where);
+	rw_exit(&spa_namespace_lite_lock);
 	if (spa == NULL)
 		return (NULL);
 
@@ -746,7 +802,9 @@ spa_add(const char *name, nvlist_t *config, const char *altroot)
 	spa_stats_init(spa);
 
 	ASSERT(MUTEX_HELD(&spa_namespace_lock));
+	rw_enter(&spa_namespace_lite_lock, RW_WRITER);
 	avl_add(&spa_namespace_avl, spa);
+	rw_exit(&spa_namespace_lite_lock);
 
 	/*
 	 * Set the alternate root, if there is one.
@@ -850,7 +908,9 @@ spa_remove(spa_t *spa)
 
 	nvlist_free(spa->spa_config_splitting);
 
+	rw_enter(&spa_namespace_lite_lock, RW_WRITER);
 	avl_remove(&spa_namespace_avl, spa);
+	rw_exit(&spa_namespace_lite_lock);
 
 	if (spa->spa_root)
 		spa_strfree(spa->spa_root);
@@ -935,6 +995,20 @@ spa_next(spa_t *prev)
 		return (avl_first(&spa_namespace_avl));
 }
 
+/*
+ * Given a pool, return the next pool in the namespace, or NULL if there is
+ * none.  If 'prev' is NULL, return the first pool.
+ */
+spa_t *
+spa_next_lite(spa_t *prev)
+{
+	ASSERT(RW_LOCK_HELD(&spa_namespace_lite_lock));
+	if (prev)
+		return (AVL_NEXT(&spa_namespace_avl, prev));
+	else
+		return (avl_first(&spa_namespace_avl));
+}
+
 /*
  * ==========================================================================
  * SPA refcount functions
@@ -1238,7 +1312,7 @@ uint64_t
 spa_vdev_enter(spa_t *spa)
 {
 	mutex_enter(&spa->spa_vdev_top_lock);
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 
 	ASSERT0(spa->spa_export_thread);
 
@@ -1257,7 +1331,7 @@ uint64_t
 spa_vdev_detach_enter(spa_t *spa, uint64_t guid)
 {
 	mutex_enter(&spa->spa_vdev_top_lock);
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 
 	ASSERT0(spa->spa_export_thread);
 
@@ -1462,7 +1536,7 @@ spa_vdev_state_exit(spa_t *spa, vdev_t *vd, int error)
 	 * If the config changed, update the config cache.
 	 */
 	if (config_changed) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		spa_write_cachefile(spa, B_FALSE, B_TRUE, B_FALSE);
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	}
@@ -2164,7 +2238,7 @@ spa_set_deadman_ziotime(hrtime_t ns)
 	spa_t *spa = NULL;
 
 	if (spa_mode_global != SPA_MODE_UNINIT) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		while ((spa = spa_next(spa)) != NULL)
 			spa->spa_deadman_ziotime = ns;
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
@@ -2177,7 +2251,7 @@ spa_set_deadman_synctime(hrtime_t ns)
 	spa_t *spa = NULL;
 
 	if (spa_mode_global != SPA_MODE_UNINIT) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		while ((spa = spa_next(spa)) != NULL)
 			spa->spa_deadman_synctime = ns;
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
@@ -2536,6 +2610,7 @@ spa_init(spa_mode_t mode)
 {
 	mutex_init(&spa_namespace_lock, NULL, MUTEX_DEFAULT, NULL);
 	mutex_init(&spa_spare_lock, NULL, MUTEX_DEFAULT, NULL);
+	rw_init(&spa_namespace_lite_lock, NULL, RW_DEFAULT, NULL);
 	mutex_init(&spa_l2cache_lock, NULL, MUTEX_DEFAULT, NULL);
 	cv_init(&spa_namespace_cv, NULL, CV_DEFAULT, NULL);
 
@@ -2999,7 +3074,7 @@ param_set_deadman_failmode_common(const char *val)
 		return (SET_ERROR(EINVAL));
 
 	if (spa_mode_global != SPA_MODE_UNINIT) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		while ((spa = spa_next(spa)) != NULL)
 			spa_set_deadman_failmode(spa, val);
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
@@ -3011,9 +3086,11 @@ param_set_deadman_failmode_common(const char *val)
 
 /* Namespace manipulation */
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(spa_lookup);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(spa_lookup_lite);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(spa_add);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(spa_remove);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(spa_next);
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(spa_next_lite);
 
 /* Refcount functions */
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(spa_open_ref);
@@ -3120,6 +3197,9 @@ ZFS_MODULE_PARAM(zfs, zfs_, ddt_data_is_special, INT, ZMOD_RW,
 ZFS_MODULE_PARAM(zfs, zfs_, user_indirect_is_special, INT, ZMOD_RW,
 	"Place user data indirect blocks into the special class");
 
+ZFS_MODULE_PARAM(zfs_spa, spa_, namespace_delay_ms, UINT, ZMOD_RW,
+	"millisecond sleep after taking spa_namespace_lock (for testing only)");
+
 /* BEGIN CSTYLED */
 ZFS_MODULE_PARAM_CALL(zfs_deadman, zfs_deadman_, failmode,
 	param_set_deadman_failmode, param_get_charp, ZMOD_RW,
diff --git a/module/zfs/zfs_fm.c b/module/zfs/zfs_fm.c
index f7cecc9af8..0a674b092b 100644
--- a/module/zfs/zfs_fm.c
+++ b/module/zfs/zfs_fm.c
@@ -1562,7 +1562,7 @@ zfs_ereport_zvol_post(const char *subclass, const char *name,
 	char *r;
 
 	boolean_t locked = mutex_owned(&spa_namespace_lock);
-	if (!locked) mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	if (!locked) mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	spa_t *spa = spa_lookup(name);
 	if (!locked) mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 
diff --git a/module/zfs/zfs_ioctl.c b/module/zfs/zfs_ioctl.c
index 53366ad497..8dfe8850df 100644
--- a/module/zfs/zfs_ioctl.c
+++ b/module/zfs/zfs_ioctl.c
@@ -3012,7 +3012,7 @@ zfs_ioc_pool_set_props(zfs_cmd_t *zc)
 	if (pair != NULL && strcmp(nvpair_name(pair),
 	    zpool_prop_to_name(ZPOOL_PROP_CACHEFILE)) == 0 &&
 	    nvlist_next_nvpair(props, pair) == NULL) {
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+		mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 		if ((spa = spa_lookup(zc->zc_name)) != NULL) {
 			spa_configfile_set(spa, props, B_FALSE);
 			spa_write_cachefile(spa, B_FALSE, B_TRUE, B_FALSE);
@@ -3060,27 +3060,14 @@ zfs_ioc_pool_get_props(const char *pool, nvlist_t *innvl, nvlist_t *outnvl)
 		props = NULL;
 	}
 
-	if ((error = spa_open(pool, &spa, FTAG)) != 0) {
-		/*
-		 * If the pool is faulted, there may be properties we can still
-		 * get (such as altroot and cachefile), so attempt to get them
-		 * anyway.
-		 */
-		mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
-		if ((spa = spa_lookup(pool)) != NULL) {
-			error = spa_prop_get(spa, outnvl);
-			if (error == 0 && props != NULL)
-				error = spa_prop_get_nvlist(spa, props, n_props,
-				    outnvl);
-		}
-		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
-	} else {
+	rw_enter(&spa_namespace_lite_lock, RW_READER);
+	if ((spa = spa_lookup_lite(pool)) != NULL) {
 		error = spa_prop_get(spa, outnvl);
 		if (error == 0 && props != NULL)
 			error = spa_prop_get_nvlist(spa, props, n_props,
 			    outnvl);
-		spa_close(spa, FTAG);
 	}
+	rw_exit(&spa_namespace_lite_lock);
 
 	return (error);
 }
@@ -5956,7 +5943,7 @@ zfs_ioc_clear(zfs_cmd_t *zc)
 	/*
 	 * On zpool clear we also fix up missing slogs
 	 */
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	spa = spa_lookup(zc->zc_name);
 	if (spa == NULL) {
 		mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
diff --git a/module/zfs/zio_inject.c b/module/zfs/zio_inject.c
index 012a0e3c6c..f2443afe53 100644
--- a/module/zfs/zio_inject.c
+++ b/module/zfs/zio_inject.c
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ zio_inject_fault(char *name, int flags, int *id, zinject_record_t *record)
 			if (zio_pool_handler_exists(name, record->zi_cmd))
 				return (SET_ERROR(EEXIST));
 
-			mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+			mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 			boolean_t has_spa = spa_lookup(name) != NULL;
 			mutex_exit(&spa_namespace_lock);
 
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@ zio_inject_list_next(int *id, char *name, size_t buflen,
 	inject_handler_t *handler;
 	int ret;
 
-	mutex_enter(&spa_namespace_lock);
+	mutex_enter_ns(&spa_namespace_lock);
 	rw_enter(&inject_lock, RW_READER);
 
 	for (handler = list_head(&inject_handlers); handler != NULL;
diff --git a/tests/runfiles/common.run b/tests/runfiles/common.run
index 088e46ce57..2bc2b38dd1 100644
--- a/tests/runfiles/common.run
+++ b/tests/runfiles/common.run
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ tests = ['zpool_status_001_pos', 'zpool_status_002_pos',
     'zpool_status_003_pos', 'zpool_status_004_pos',
     'zpool_status_005_pos', 'zpool_status_006_pos',
     'zpool_status_007_pos', 'zpool_status_008_pos',
-    'zpool_status_features_001_pos']
+    'zpool_status_features_001_pos', 'zpool_status_namespace_lock']
 tags = ['functional', 'cli_root', 'zpool_status']
 
 [tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_sync]
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/include/commands.cfg b/tests/zfs-tests/include/commands.cfg
index 19770138bf..ccfde4067a 100644
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/include/commands.cfg
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/include/commands.cfg
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ export SYSTEM_FILES_COMMON='awk
     sync
     tail
     tar
+    time
     timeout
     touch
     tr
@@ -230,6 +231,7 @@ export ZFSTEST_FILES='badsend
     edonr_test
     skein_test
     sha2_test
+    time
     ctime
     truncate_test
     ereports
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/include/tunables.cfg b/tests/zfs-tests/include/tunables.cfg
index 96943421f8..77a0b3099b 100644
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/include/tunables.cfg
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/include/tunables.cfg
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ VOL_INHIBIT_DEV			UNSUPPORTED			zvol_inhibit_dev
 VOL_MODE			vol.mode			zvol_volmode
 VOL_RECURSIVE			vol.recursive			UNSUPPORTED
 VOL_USE_BLK_MQ			UNSUPPORTED			zvol_use_blk_mq
+SPA_NAMESPACE_DELAY_MS	spa.namespace_delay_ms	spa_namespace_delay_ms
 BCLONE_ENABLED			bclone_enabled			zfs_bclone_enabled
 BCLONE_WAIT_DIRTY		bclone_wait_dirty		zfs_bclone_wait_dirty
 XATTR_COMPAT			xattr_compat			zfs_xattr_compat
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/Makefile.am
index bbeabc6dfb..e1bbbda18f 100644
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -1256,6 +1256,7 @@ nobase_dist_datadir_zfs_tests_tests_SCRIPTS += \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_status/zpool_status_007_pos.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_status/zpool_status_008_pos.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_status/zpool_status_features_001_pos.ksh \
+	functional/cli_root/zpool_status/zpool_status_namespace_lock.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_sync/cleanup.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_sync/setup.ksh \
 	functional/cli_root/zpool_sync/zpool_sync_001_pos.ksh \
diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_status/zpool_status_namespace_lock.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_status/zpool_status_namespace_lock.ksh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..fe94ece2be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/cli_root/zpool_status/zpool_status_namespace_lock.ksh
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+#!/bin/ksh -p
+#
+# CDDL HEADER START
+#
+# The contents of this file are subject to the terms of the
+# Common Development and Distribution License (the "License").
+# You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+#
+# You can obtain a copy of the license at usr/src/OPENSOLARIS.LICENSE
+# or https://opensource.org/licenses/CDDL-1.0.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions
+# and limitations under the License.
+#
+# When distributing Covered Code, include this CDDL HEADER in each
+# file and include the License file at usr/src/OPENSOLARIS.LICENSE.
+# If applicable, add the following below this CDDL HEADER, with the
+# fields enclosed by brackets "[]" replaced with your own identifying
+# information: Portions Copyright [yyyy] [name of copyright owner]
+#
+# CDDL HEADER END
+#
+
+. $STF_SUITE/include/libtest.shlib
+
+#
+# DESCRIPTION:
+# 	Test out that zpool status|get|list are not affected by the
+# 	'spa_namespace_lock' being held.  This was an issue in the past
+# 	where a pool would hang while holding the lock, and 'zpool status'
+# 	would hang waiting for the lock.
+#
+# STRATEGY:
+#	1. Create a test pool.  It should be created quickly.
+#	2. Set SPA_NAMESPACE_DELAY_MS to 1 second.
+#	3. Create another test pool.  It should take over 1 second due to the
+#	   delay.
+#	4. Run zpool status|get|list.  They should all run quickly.
+#	5. In the background, destroy one of the pools and export the other one
+#	   at the same time.  This should cause a lot of lock contention.  Note
+#	   that the 1 sec delay is still in effect.
+#	6. At the same time run some zpool commands and verify they still run in
+#	   200ms or less, and without error.
+
+verify_runnable "global"
+
+FILEDEV1="$TEST_BASE_DIR/filedev1.$$"
+FILEDEV2="$TEST_BASE_DIR/filedev2.$$"
+
+log_must truncate -s 100M "$FILEDEV1" "$FILEDEV2"
+TESTPOOL1=testpool1
+TESTPOOL2=testpool2
+
+function cleanup
+{
+	restore_tunable SPA_NAMESPACE_DELAY_MS
+	datasetexists $TESTPOOL1 && log_must zpool destroy $TESTPOOL1
+	datasetexists $TESTPOOL2 && log_must zpool destroy $TESTPOOL2
+	rm -f $FILEDEV1 $FILEDEV2
+
+	log_note "debug: $(cat /tmp/out)"
+}
+
+# Run a command and test how long it takes.  Fail the test if the command
+# fails or takes the wrong amount of time to run.
+#
+# The arguments consist of an array like this:
+#
+#	 zpool get all -le 200
+#
+# The first part of the array is the command and its arguments.
+# The 2nd to last argument is a ksh comparator operation like "-le" or "-ge"
+# The last argument is the expected time in milliseconds for the comparator.
+#
+# So the example above reads as "run 'zpool get all' and check that it runs in
+# 200 milliseconds or less".
+#
+function timetest_cmd
+{
+	# Run the command and record 'real' time.  dec will be a factional value
+	# like '1.05' representing the number of seconds it took to run.
+	array=($@)
+
+	# Save the last two arguments and remove them from the array
+	target_ms="${array[@]: -1}"
+	unset array[-1]
+	comp="${array[@]: -1}"
+	unset array[-1]
+
+	out="$({ time -p "${array[@]}" 1> /dev/null; } 2>&1)"
+	rc=$?
+	dec=$(echo "$out" | awk '/^real /{print $2}')
+
+	# Calculate milliseconds.  The divide by one at the end removes the
+	# decimal places.
+	ms=$(bc <<< "scale=0; $dec * 1000 / 1")
+
+	log_note "${array[@]}: $ms $comp $target_ms"
+
+	# For debugging failures
+	echo "$@: dec=$dec; rc=$rc; ms=$ms; $out" >> /tmp/out2
+	if [ -z "$ms" ] || [ $rc != 0 ] ; then
+		log_fail "Bad value: ms=$ms, rc=$rc: $out"
+	fi
+
+	if eval ! [ $ms $comp $target_ms ] ; then
+		log_fail "Expected time wrong: $ms $comp $target_ms"
+	fi
+}
+
+log_assert "Verify spa_namespace_lock isn't held by zpool status|get|list"
+
+log_onexit cleanup
+
+# A normal zpool create should take 200ms or less
+timetest_cmd zpool create $TESTPOOL1 $FILEDEV1 -le 200
+
+log_must save_tunable SPA_NAMESPACE_DELAY_MS
+log_must set_tunable32 SPA_NAMESPACE_DELAY_MS 1000
+
+# We added 1 sec hold time on spa_namespace lock.  zpool create
+# should now take at least 1000ms.
+timetest_cmd zpool create $TESTPOOL2 $FILEDEV2 -ge 1000
+
+# zpool status|get|list should not take spa_namespace_lock, so they should run
+# quickly, even loaded down with options.
+timetest_cmd zpool status -pPstvLD -le 200
+timetest_cmd zpool get all -le 200
+timetest_cmd zpool list -gLPv -le 200
+
+# In the background, destroy one of the pools and export the other one at the
+# same time.  This should cause a lot of lock contention.  At the same time
+# run some zpool commands and verify they still run in 200ms or less, and
+# without error.
+zpool destroy $TESTPOOL1 &
+zpool export $TESTPOOL2 &
+for i in 1 2 3 4 ; do
+	timetest_cmd zpool status -pPstvLD -le 200
+	timetest_cmd zpool get all -le 200
+	timetest_cmd zpool list -gLPv -le 200
+	sleep 0.1
+done
+wait
+
+log_pass "zpool status|get|list was not delayed by the spa_namespace_lock"