--- x/fs/kernfs/dir.c
+++ d/fs/kernfs/dir.c
@@ -705,7 +705,9 @@ struct kernfs_node *kernfs_find_and_get_
 			goto err_unlock;
 	}
 
-	if (unlikely(!kernfs_active(kn) || !atomic_inc_not_zero(&kn->count)))
+	if (atomic_read(&kn->active) < 0)
+		goto err_unlock;
+	if (!atomic_inc_not_zero(&kn->count))
 		goto err_unlock;
 
 	spin_unlock(&kernfs_idr_lock);