diff --git a/ipc/sem.c b/ipc/sem.c
index 0dbdb98fdf2d..c1f3ca244a69 100644
--- a/ipc/sem.c
+++ b/ipc/sem.c
@@ -2182,14 +2182,15 @@ long __do_semtimedop(int semid, struct sembuf *sops,
 		 * scenarios where we were awakened externally, during the
 		 * window between wake_q_add() and wake_up_q().
 		 */
+		rcu_read_lock();
 		error = READ_ONCE(queue.status);
 		if (error != -EINTR) {
 			/* see SEM_BARRIER_2 for purpose/pairing */
 			smp_acquire__after_ctrl_dep();
+			rcu_read_unlock();
 			goto out;
 		}
 
-		rcu_read_lock();
 		locknum = sem_lock(sma, sops, nsops);
 
 		if (!ipc_valid_object(&sma->sem_perm))