diff --git a/kernel/fork.c b/kernel/fork.c
index 242a706e772..6d5dbb7a13e 100644
--- a/kernel/fork.c
+++ b/kernel/fork.c
@@ -1005,6 +1005,7 @@ static struct task_struct *copy_process(unsigned long clone_flags,
 	 * triggers too late. This doesn't hurt, the check is only there
 	 * to stop root fork bombs.
 	 */
+	retval = -EAGAIN;
 	if (nr_threads >= max_threads)
 		goto bad_fork_cleanup_count;