diff --git a/fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c b/fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c
index f69c545f5868..8d5422bb9c1a 100644
--- a/fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c
+++ b/fs/proc/proc_sysctl.c
@@ -1620,7 +1620,8 @@ static void drop_sysctl_table(struct ctl_table_header *header)
 	if (--header->nreg)
 		return;
 
-	put_links(header);
+	if (parent)
+		put_links(header);
 	start_unregistering(header);
 	if (!--header->count)
 		kfree_rcu(header, rcu);