from: https://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-btrfs/msg87585.html As described in the thread above (log messages attached there), when filefrag is used on a btrfs which is on a blockdevice that is set readonly, it leads errors like: Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): Skipping commit of aborted transaction. Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): cleanup_transaction:1846: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS info (device dm-2): delayed_refs has NO entry Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): btrfs_update_root:136: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): Skipping commit of aborted transaction. Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): cleanup_transaction:1846: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS info (device dm-2): delayed_refs has NO entry Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): btrfs_update_root:136: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): Skipping commit of aborted transaction. Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): cleanup_transaction:1846: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS info (device dm-2): delayed_refs has NO entry Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): btrfs_update_root:136: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): Skipping commit of aborted transaction. Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): cleanup_transaction:1846: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS info (device dm-2): delayed_refs has NO entry Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): btrfs_update_root:136: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): Skipping commit of aborted transaction. Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): cleanup_transaction:1846: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS info (device dm-2): delayed_refs has NO entry Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS warning (device dm-2): btrfs_update_root:136: Aborting unused transaction(No space left). Mar 16 18:27:28 heisenberg kernel: BTRFS info (device dm-2): delayed_refs has NO entry See https://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-btrfs/msg88573.html for a reproducer.