diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events.c
index 9f8f2d02276c..1d39eaf6a0f7 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events.c
@@ -5019,6 +5019,8 @@ static __init void event_test_stuff(void)
 	struct task_struct *test_thread;
 
 	test_thread = kthread_run(event_test_thread, NULL, "test-events");
+	if (WARN_ON(IS_ERR(test_thread)))
+		return;
 	msleep(1);
 	kthread_stop(test_thread);
 }