diff --git a/fs/afs/dynroot.c b/fs/afs/dynroot.c
index 9732a1e17db3..3ea5e388ee16 100644
--- a/fs/afs/dynroot.c
+++ b/fs/afs/dynroot.c
@@ -213,6 +213,9 @@ static const char *afs_atcell_get_link(struct dentry *dentry, struct inode *inod
 	if (!dentry) {
 		/* We're in RCU-pathwalk. */
 		cell = rcu_dereference(net->ws_cell);
+		if (!cell)
+			return ERR_PTR(-ENOENT);
+
 		if (dotted)
 			name = cell->name - 1;
 		else