diff --git a/include/linux/kcov.h b/include/linux/kcov.h
index b851ba415e03..3b479a3d235a 100644
--- a/include/linux/kcov.h
+++ b/include/linux/kcov.h
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ enum kcov_mode {
 	KCOV_MODE_TRACE_PC = 2,
 	/* Collecting comparison operands mode. */
 	KCOV_MODE_TRACE_CMP = 3,
+	/* The process owns a KCOV remote reference. */
+	KCOV_MODE_REMOTE = 4,
 };
 
 #define KCOV_IN_CTXSW	(1 << 30)
diff --git a/kernel/kcov.c b/kernel/kcov.c
index f9ac2e9e460f..9f4affae4fad 100644
--- a/kernel/kcov.c
+++ b/kernel/kcov.c
@@ -631,6 +631,7 @@ static int kcov_ioctl_locked(struct kcov *kcov, unsigned int cmd,
 			return -EINVAL;
 		kcov->mode = mode;
 		t->kcov = kcov;
+	        t->kcov_mode = KCOV_MODE_REMOTE;
 		kcov->t = t;
 		kcov->remote = true;
 		kcov->remote_size = remote_arg->area_size;