diff --git a/kernel/audit_tree.c b/kernel/audit_tree.c
index a291aa23fb3f..43c307dc9453 100644
--- a/kernel/audit_tree.c
+++ b/kernel/audit_tree.c
@@ -658,6 +658,7 @@ int audit_add_tree_rule(struct audit_krule *rule)
 	struct vfsmount *mnt;
 	int err;
 
+	rule->tree = NULL;
 	list_for_each_entry(tree, &tree_list, list) {
 		if (!strcmp(seed->pathname, tree->pathname)) {
 			put_tree(seed);