diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index 58f715f7657e..34a5d49b038b 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -5383,7 +5383,7 @@ int filename_rmdir(int dfd, struct filename *name)
 	if (error)
 		goto exit2;
 
-	dentry = start_dirop(path.dentry, &last, lookup_flags);
+	dentry = __start_dirop(path.dentry, &last, lookup_flags, TASK_KILLABLE);
 	error = PTR_ERR(dentry);
 	if (IS_ERR(dentry))
 		goto exit3;