diff --git a/kernel/relay.c b/kernel/relay.c
index 1537158c67b3..61d37e6da22d 100644
--- a/kernel/relay.c
+++ b/kernel/relay.c
@@ -427,6 +427,8 @@ static struct dentry *relay_create_buf_file(struct rchan *chan,
 	dentry = chan->cb->create_buf_file(tmpname, chan->parent,
 					   S_IRUSR, buf,
 					   &chan->is_global);
+	if (IS_ERR(dentry))
+		dentry = NULL;
 
 	kfree(tmpname);
 
@@ -460,7 +462,7 @@ static struct rchan_buf *relay_open_buf(struct rchan *chan, unsigned int cpu)
 		dentry = chan->cb->create_buf_file(NULL, NULL,
 						   S_IRUSR, buf,
 						   &chan->is_global);
-		if (WARN_ON(dentry))
+		if (IS_ERR_OR_NULL(dentry))
 			goto free_buf;
 	}