diff --git a/kernel/exit.c b/kernel/exit.c
index 2833ffb0c211..0b81b26a872a 100644
--- a/kernel/exit.c
+++ b/kernel/exit.c
@@ -619,8 +619,8 @@ static void forget_original_parent(struct task_struct *father,
 	reaper = find_new_reaper(father, reaper);
 	list_for_each_entry(p, &father->children, sibling) {
 		for_each_thread(p, t) {
-			t->real_parent = reaper;
-			BUG_ON((!t->ptrace) != (t->parent == father));
+			RCU_INIT_POINTER(t->real_parent, reaper);
+			BUG_ON((!t->ptrace) != (rcu_access_pointer(t->parent) == father));
 			if (likely(!t->ptrace))
 				t->parent = t->real_parent;
 			if (t->pdeath_signal)