diff --git a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_options.c b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_options.c
index 6e6b09359ec3..724e30fa20b9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_options.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_options.c
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@ static int bond_option_active_slave_set(struct bonding *bond,
 	/* check to see if we are clearing active */
 	if (!slave_dev) {
 		pr_info("%s: Clearing current active slave\n", bond->dev->name);
-		rcu_assign_pointer(bond->curr_active_slave, NULL);
+		RCU_INIT_POINTER(bond->curr_active_slave, NULL);
 		bond_select_active_slave(bond);
 	} else {
 		struct slave *old_active = bond->curr_active_slave;