diff --git a/fs/namespace.c b/fs/namespace.c
index 6d4ecde682df..c7e252eb249e 100644
--- a/fs/namespace.c
+++ b/fs/namespace.c
@@ -3007,6 +3007,9 @@ static struct mount *__do_loopback(const struct path *old_path,
 	if (!may_copy_tree(old_path))
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
+	if (recurse && !old->mnt_ns)
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
+
 	if (!recurse && __has_locked_children(old, old_path->dentry))
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);