diff --git a/fs/namespace.c b/fs/namespace.c
index f66f4609ef9d..0a7d50db228d 100644
--- a/fs/namespace.c
+++ b/fs/namespace.c
@@ -4780,14 +4780,15 @@ int path_pivot_root(struct path *new, struct path *old)
 
 	new_mnt = real_mount(new->mnt);
 	root_mnt = real_mount(root.mnt);
+	/* only a mounted mount has a parent that namespace_sem pins */
+	if (!check_mnt(root_mnt) || !check_mnt(new_mnt))
+		return -EINVAL;
 	ex_parent = new_mnt->mnt_parent;
 	root_parent = root_mnt->mnt_parent;
 	if (IS_MNT_SHARED(old_mnt) ||
 		IS_MNT_SHARED(ex_parent) ||
 		IS_MNT_SHARED(root_parent))
 		return -EINVAL;
-	if (!check_mnt(root_mnt) || !check_mnt(new_mnt))
-		return -EINVAL;
 	if (new_mnt->mnt.mnt_flags & MNT_LOCKED)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	if (d_unlinked(new->dentry))