diff --git a/security/keys/process_keys.c b/security/keys/process_keys.c
index a63c46bb2d14..76da13fa07fa 100644
--- a/security/keys/process_keys.c
+++ b/security/keys/process_keys.c
@@ -556,9 +556,8 @@ key_ref_t search_process_keyrings_rcu(struct keyring_search_context *ctx)
 	    ) {
 		const struct cred *cred = ctx->cred;
 
-		if (key_validate(cred->request_key_auth) == 0) {
-			rka = ctx->cred->request_key_auth->payload.data[0];
-
+		rka = dereference_key_rcu(cred->request_key_auth);
+		if (rka && key_validate(cred->request_key_auth) == 0) {
 			//// was search_process_keyrings() [ie. recursive]
 			ctx->cred = rka->cred;
 			key_ref = search_cred_keyrings_rcu(ctx);