diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
index 78fcbb89cf32..b8b4843f9c6d 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
@@ -932,7 +932,8 @@ int xfrm_state_flush(struct net *net, u8 proto, bool task_valid)
 restart:
 		hlist_for_each_entry(x, net->xfrm.state_bydst+i, bydst) {
 			if (!xfrm_state_kern(x) &&
-			    xfrm_id_proto_match(x->id.proto, proto)) {
+			    xfrm_id_proto_match(x->id.proto, proto) &&
+			    x->km.state != XFRM_STATE_DEAD) {
 				xfrm_state_hold(x);
 				spin_unlock_bh(&net->xfrm.xfrm_state_lock);