diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index 4af778f32baf71..5bb3d576cd465b 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -2648,9 +2648,10 @@ static int do_last(struct nameidata *nd, struct path *path,
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * It already exists.
+	 * create/update audit record if it already exists.
 	 */
-	audit_inode(pathname, path->dentry);
+	if (path->dentry->d_inode)
+		audit_inode(pathname, path->dentry);
 
 	/*
 	 * If atomic_open() acquired write access it is dropped now due to