diff --git a/kernel/rcutorture.c b/kernel/rcutorture.c
index ed1c72bd9c09..a89b381a8c6e 100644
--- a/kernel/rcutorture.c
+++ b/kernel/rcutorture.c
@@ -1465,12 +1465,15 @@ rcu_torture_onoff(void *arg)
 static int __cpuinit
 rcu_torture_onoff_init(void)
 {
+	int ret;
+
 	if (onoff_interval <= 0)
 		return 0;
 	onoff_task = kthread_run(rcu_torture_onoff, NULL, "rcu_torture_onoff");
 	if (IS_ERR(onoff_task)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(onoff_task);
 		onoff_task = NULL;
-		return PTR_ERR(onoff_task);
+		return ret;
 	}
 	return 0;
 }