diff --git a/fs/kernfs/dir.c b/fs/kernfs/dir.c
index 6eca72cfa1f2..1cc88ba6de90 100644
--- a/fs/kernfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/kernfs/dir.c
@@ -1343,14 +1343,17 @@ static void __kernfs_remove(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 {
 	struct kernfs_node *pos;
 
+	/* Short-circuit if non-root @kn has already finished removal. */
+	if (!kn)
+		return;
+
 	lockdep_assert_held_write(&kernfs_root(kn)->kernfs_rwsem);
 
 	/*
-	 * Short-circuit if non-root @kn has already finished removal.
 	 * This is for kernfs_remove_self() which plays with active ref
 	 * after removal.
 	 */
-	if (!kn || (kn->parent && RB_EMPTY_NODE(&kn->rb)))
+	if (kn->parent && RB_EMPTY_NODE(&kn->rb))
 		return;
 
 	pr_debug("kernfs %s: removing\n", kn->name);