diff --git a/security/integrity/ima/ima_policy.c b/security/integrity/ima/ima_policy.c
index aed47b777a57..4926a5a1bc94 100644
--- a/security/integrity/ima/ima_policy.c
+++ b/security/integrity/ima/ima_policy.c
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ static struct ima_rule_entry default_appraise_rules[] = {
 static LIST_HEAD(ima_default_rules);
 static LIST_HEAD(ima_policy_rules);
 static LIST_HEAD(ima_temp_rules);
-static struct list_head *ima_rules;
+static struct list_head *ima_rules = &ima_default_rules;
 
 static int ima_policy __initdata;
 
@@ -429,7 +429,6 @@ void __init ima_init_policy(void)
 			temp_ima_appraise |= IMA_APPRAISE_POLICY;
 	}
 
-	ima_rules = &ima_default_rules;
 	ima_update_policy_flag();
 }