--- x/net/sched/cls_api.c
+++ y/net/sched/cls_api.c
@@ -2154,7 +2154,6 @@ replay:
 	tp = NULL;
 	cl = 0;
 	block = NULL;
-	q = NULL;
 	chain = NULL;
 	flags = 0;
 
@@ -2173,9 +2172,12 @@ replay:
 
 	/* Find head of filter chain. */
 
+	q = NULL;
 	err = __tcf_qdisc_find(net, &q, &parent, t->tcm_ifindex, false, extack);
 	if (err)
 		return err;
+	if (!q)
+		return -ENOENT;
 
 	if (tcf_proto_check_kind(tca[TCA_KIND], name)) {
 		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Specified TC filter name too long");