diff --git a/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c b/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c
index c2ec30e6b51f..eedc2e6bc45a 100644
--- a/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c
+++ b/fs/nfsd/nfsctl.c
@@ -420,6 +420,7 @@ static ssize_t write_threads(struct file *file, char *buf, size_t size)
 	char *mesg = buf;
 	int rv;
 	struct net *net = netns(file);
+	struct nfsd_net *nn = net_generic(net, nfsd_net_id);
 
 	if (size > 0) {
 		int newthreads;
@@ -430,7 +431,10 @@ static ssize_t write_threads(struct file *file, char *buf, size_t size)
 			return -EINVAL;
 		trace_nfsd_ctl_threads(net, newthreads);
 		mutex_lock(&nfsd_mutex);
-		rv = nfsd_svc(1, &newthreads, net, file->f_cred, NULL);
+		if (newthreads > 0 || nn->nfsd_serv != NULL)
+			rv = nfsd_svc(1, &newthreads, net, file->f_cred, NULL);
+		else
+			rv = 0;
 		mutex_unlock(&nfsd_mutex);
 		if (rv < 0)
 			return rv;