diff --git a/kernel/kmod.c b/kernel/kmod.c
index fb326365b69466158b03b726e53c4fe15448fa89..b086006c59e7c6957a51984a3ec101ea2db8525d 100644
--- a/kernel/kmod.c
+++ b/kernel/kmod.c
@@ -571,6 +571,10 @@ int call_usermodehelper_exec(struct subprocess_info *sub_info, int wait)
 	DECLARE_COMPLETION_ONSTACK(done);
 	int retval = 0;
 
+	if (!sub_info->path) {
+		call_usermodehelper_freeinfo(sub_info);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 	helper_lock();
 	if (!khelper_wq || usermodehelper_disabled) {
 		retval = -EBUSY;