diff --git a/certs/blacklist.c b/certs/blacklist.c
index 486ce0dd8e9c..25094ea73600 100644
--- a/certs/blacklist.c
+++ b/certs/blacklist.c
@@ -307,6 +307,15 @@ static int restrict_link_for_blacklist(struct key *dest_keyring,
 
 /*
  * Initialise the blacklist
+ *
+ * The blacklist_init() function is registered as an initcall via
+ * device_initcall().  As a result if the blacklist_init() function fails for
+ * any reason the kernel continues to execute.  While cleanly returning -ENODEV
+ * could be acceptable for some non-critical kernel parts, if the blacklist
+ * keyring fails to load it defeats the certificate/key based deny list for
+ * signed modules.  If a critical piece of security functionality that users
+ * expect to be present fails to initialize, panic()ing is likely the right
+ * thing to do.
  */
 static int __init blacklist_init(void)
 {