diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c
index b5006a091fd6..f76bb5237df3 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_policy.c
@@ -301,7 +301,9 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(xfrm_policy_destroy);
 
 static void xfrm_policy_kill(struct xfrm_policy *policy)
 {
+	write_lock_bh(&policy->lock);
 	policy->walk.dead = 1;
+	write_unlock_bh(&policy->lock);
 
 	atomic_inc(&policy->genid);