diff --git a/fs/fuse/dev.c b/fs/fuse/dev.c
index 63a289853023..d09cddd68e03 100644
--- a/fs/fuse/dev.c
+++ b/fs/fuse/dev.c
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(fuse_dev_chan_new);
 
 unsigned int fuse_chan_num_background(struct fuse_chan *fch)
 {
-	return fch->num_background;
+	return READ_ONCE(fch->num_background);
 }
 
 unsigned int fuse_chan_max_background(struct fuse_chan *fch)