diff --git a/fs/dlm/netlink.c b/fs/dlm/netlink.c
index ccc9d62c462..55ea369f43a 100644
--- a/fs/dlm/netlink.c
+++ b/fs/dlm/netlink.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ static int send_data(struct sk_buff *skb)
 		return rv;
 	}
 
-	return genlmsg_unicast(skb, listener_nlpid);
+	return genlmsg_unicast(&init_net, skb, listener_nlpid);
 }
 
 static int user_cmd(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
diff --git a/include/net/genetlink.h b/include/net/genetlink.h
index 1b0e3ee4ddd..2a1c06874c4 100644
--- a/include/net/genetlink.h
+++ b/include/net/genetlink.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/genetlink.h>
 #include <net/netlink.h>
+#include <net/net_namespace.h>
 
 /**
  * struct genl_multicast_group - generic netlink multicast group
@@ -27,6 +28,8 @@ struct genl_multicast_group
  * @name: name of family
  * @version: protocol version
  * @maxattr: maximum number of attributes supported
+ * @netnsok: set to true if the family can handle network
+ *	namespaces and should be presented in all of them
  * @attrbuf: buffer to store parsed attributes
  * @ops_list: list of all assigned operations
  * @family_list: family list
@@ -39,6 +42,7 @@ struct genl_family
 	char			name[GENL_NAMSIZ];
 	unsigned int		version;
 	unsigned int		maxattr;
+	bool			netnsok;
 	struct nlattr **	attrbuf;	/* private */
 	struct list_head	ops_list;	/* private */
 	struct list_head	family_list;	/* private */
@@ -62,8 +66,32 @@ struct genl_info
 	struct genlmsghdr *	genlhdr;
 	void *			userhdr;
 	struct nlattr **	attrs;
+#ifdef CONFIG_NET_NS
+	struct net *		_net;
+#endif
 };
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_NET_NS
+static inline struct net *genl_info_net(struct genl_info *info)
+{
+	return info->_net;
+}
+
+static inline void genl_info_net_set(struct genl_info *info, struct net *net)
+{
+	info->_net = net;
+}
+#else
+static inline struct net *genl_info_net(struct genl_info *info)
+{
+	return &init_net;
+}
+
+static inline void genl_info_net_set(struct genl_info *info, struct net *net)
+{
+}
+#endif
+
 /**
  * struct genl_ops - generic netlink operations
  * @cmd: command identifier
@@ -98,8 +126,6 @@ extern int genl_register_mc_group(struct genl_family *family,
 extern void genl_unregister_mc_group(struct genl_family *family,
 				     struct genl_multicast_group *grp);
 
-extern struct sock *genl_sock;
-
 /**
  * genlmsg_put - Add generic netlink header to netlink message
  * @skb: socket buffer holding the message
@@ -170,7 +196,21 @@ static inline void genlmsg_cancel(struct sk_buff *skb, void *hdr)
 }
 
 /**
- * genlmsg_multicast - multicast a netlink message
+ * genlmsg_multicast_netns - multicast a netlink message to a specific netns
+ * @net: the net namespace
+ * @skb: netlink message as socket buffer
+ * @pid: own netlink pid to avoid sending to yourself
+ * @group: multicast group id
+ * @flags: allocation flags
+ */
+static inline int genlmsg_multicast_netns(struct net *net, struct sk_buff *skb,
+					  u32 pid, unsigned int group, gfp_t flags)
+{
+	return nlmsg_multicast(net->genl_sock, skb, pid, group, flags);
+}
+
+/**
+ * genlmsg_multicast - multicast a netlink message to the default netns
  * @skb: netlink message as socket buffer
  * @pid: own netlink pid to avoid sending to yourself
  * @group: multicast group id
@@ -179,17 +219,29 @@ static inline void genlmsg_cancel(struct sk_buff *skb, void *hdr)
 static inline int genlmsg_multicast(struct sk_buff *skb, u32 pid,
 				    unsigned int group, gfp_t flags)
 {
-	return nlmsg_multicast(genl_sock, skb, pid, group, flags);
+	return genlmsg_multicast_netns(&init_net, skb, pid, group, flags);
 }
 
+/**
+ * genlmsg_multicast_allns - multicast a netlink message to all net namespaces
+ * @skb: netlink message as socket buffer
+ * @pid: own netlink pid to avoid sending to yourself
+ * @group: multicast group id
+ * @flags: allocation flags
+ *
+ * This function must hold the RTNL or rcu_read_lock().
+ */
+int genlmsg_multicast_allns(struct sk_buff *skb, u32 pid,
+			    unsigned int group, gfp_t flags);
+
 /**
  * genlmsg_unicast - unicast a netlink message
  * @skb: netlink message as socket buffer
  * @pid: netlink pid of the destination socket
  */
-static inline int genlmsg_unicast(struct sk_buff *skb, u32 pid)
+static inline int genlmsg_unicast(struct net *net, struct sk_buff *skb, u32 pid)
 {
-	return nlmsg_unicast(genl_sock, skb, pid);
+	return nlmsg_unicast(net->genl_sock, skb, pid);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -199,7 +251,7 @@ static inline int genlmsg_unicast(struct sk_buff *skb, u32 pid)
  */
 static inline int genlmsg_reply(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 {
-	return genlmsg_unicast(skb, info->snd_pid);
+	return genlmsg_unicast(genl_info_net(info), skb, info->snd_pid);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/include/net/net_namespace.h b/include/net/net_namespace.h
index b34a6ee7375..3173d12d946 100644
--- a/include/net/net_namespace.h
+++ b/include/net/net_namespace.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ struct net_device;
 struct sock;
 struct ctl_table_header;
 struct net_generic;
+struct sock;
 
 struct net {
 	atomic_t		count;		/* To decided when the network
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ struct net {
 	spinlock_t		rules_mod_lock;
 
 	struct sock 		*rtnl;			/* rtnetlink socket */
+	struct sock		*genl_sock;
 
 	struct netns_core	core;
 	struct netns_mib	mib;
diff --git a/kernel/taskstats.c b/kernel/taskstats.c
index 888adbcca30..ea8384d3caa 100644
--- a/kernel/taskstats.c
+++ b/kernel/taskstats.c
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ static int prepare_reply(struct genl_info *info, u8 cmd, struct sk_buff **skbp,
 /*
  * Send taskstats data in @skb to listener with nl_pid @pid
  */
-static int send_reply(struct sk_buff *skb, pid_t pid)
+static int send_reply(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 {
 	struct genlmsghdr *genlhdr = nlmsg_data(nlmsg_hdr(skb));
 	void *reply = genlmsg_data(genlhdr);
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ static int send_reply(struct sk_buff *skb, pid_t pid)
 		return rc;
 	}
 
-	return genlmsg_unicast(skb, pid);
+	return genlmsg_reply(skb, info);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ static void send_cpu_listeners(struct sk_buff *skb,
 			if (!skb_next)
 				break;
 		}
-		rc = genlmsg_unicast(skb_cur, s->pid);
+		rc = genlmsg_unicast(&init_net, skb_cur, s->pid);
 		if (rc == -ECONNREFUSED) {
 			s->valid = 0;
 			delcount++;
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ static int cgroupstats_user_cmd(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 		goto err;
 	}
 
-	rc = send_reply(rep_skb, info->snd_pid);
+	rc = send_reply(rep_skb, info);
 
 err:
 	fput_light(file, fput_needed);
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ free_return_rc:
 	} else
 		goto err;
 
-	return send_reply(rep_skb, info->snd_pid);
+	return send_reply(rep_skb, info);
 err:
 	nlmsg_free(rep_skb);
 	return rc;
diff --git a/net/irda/irnetlink.c b/net/irda/irnetlink.c
index 8dd7ed7e7c1..476b307bd80 100644
--- a/net/irda/irnetlink.c
+++ b/net/irda/irnetlink.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ static int irda_nl_get_mode(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 
 	genlmsg_end(msg, hdr);
 
-	return genlmsg_unicast(msg, info->snd_pid);
+	return genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 
  err_out:
 	nlmsg_free(msg);
diff --git a/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_ctl.c b/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_ctl.c
index 7c1333c67ff..2d24d81474c 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_ctl.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_ctl.c
@@ -3231,7 +3231,7 @@ static int ip_vs_genl_get_cmd(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 	}
 
 	genlmsg_end(msg, reply);
-	ret = genlmsg_unicast(msg, info->snd_pid);
+	ret = genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 	goto out;
 
 nla_put_failure:
diff --git a/net/netlink/genetlink.c b/net/netlink/genetlink.c
index eed4c6a8afc..575c6434150 100644
--- a/net/netlink/genetlink.c
+++ b/net/netlink/genetlink.c
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@
 #include <net/sock.h>
 #include <net/genetlink.h>
 
-struct sock *genl_sock = NULL;
-
 static DEFINE_MUTEX(genl_mutex); /* serialization of message processing */
 
 static inline void genl_lock(void)
@@ -175,10 +173,31 @@ int genl_register_mc_group(struct genl_family *family,
 		mc_groups_longs++;
 	}
 
-	err = netlink_change_ngroups(genl_sock,
-				     mc_groups_longs * BITS_PER_LONG);
-	if (err)
-		goto out;
+	if (family->netnsok) {
+		struct net *net;
+
+		rcu_read_lock();
+		for_each_net_rcu(net) {
+			err = netlink_change_ngroups(net->genl_sock,
+					mc_groups_longs * BITS_PER_LONG);
+			if (err) {
+				/*
+				 * No need to roll back, can only fail if
+				 * memory allocation fails and then the
+				 * number of _possible_ groups has been
+				 * increased on some sockets which is ok.
+				 */
+				rcu_read_unlock();
+				goto out;
+			}
+		}
+		rcu_read_unlock();
+	} else {
+		err = netlink_change_ngroups(init_net.genl_sock,
+					     mc_groups_longs * BITS_PER_LONG);
+		if (err)
+			goto out;
+	}
 
 	grp->id = id;
 	set_bit(id, mc_groups);
@@ -195,8 +214,14 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(genl_register_mc_group);
 static void __genl_unregister_mc_group(struct genl_family *family,
 				       struct genl_multicast_group *grp)
 {
+	struct net *net;
 	BUG_ON(grp->family != family);
-	netlink_clear_multicast_users(genl_sock, grp->id);
+
+	rcu_read_lock();
+	for_each_net_rcu(net)
+		netlink_clear_multicast_users(net->genl_sock, grp->id);
+	rcu_read_unlock();
+
 	clear_bit(grp->id, mc_groups);
 	list_del(&grp->list);
 	genl_ctrl_event(CTRL_CMD_DELMCAST_GRP, grp);
@@ -467,6 +492,7 @@ static int genl_rcv_msg(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh)
 {
 	struct genl_ops *ops;
 	struct genl_family *family;
+	struct net *net = sock_net(skb->sk);
 	struct genl_info info;
 	struct genlmsghdr *hdr = nlmsg_data(nlh);
 	int hdrlen, err;
@@ -475,6 +501,10 @@ static int genl_rcv_msg(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh)
 	if (family == NULL)
 		return -ENOENT;
 
+	/* this family doesn't exist in this netns */
+	if (!family->netnsok && !net_eq(net, &init_net))
+		return -ENOENT;
+
 	hdrlen = GENL_HDRLEN + family->hdrsize;
 	if (nlh->nlmsg_len < nlmsg_msg_size(hdrlen))
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -492,7 +522,7 @@ static int genl_rcv_msg(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh)
 			return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
 		genl_unlock();
-		err = netlink_dump_start(genl_sock, skb, nlh,
+		err = netlink_dump_start(net->genl_sock, skb, nlh,
 					 ops->dumpit, ops->done);
 		genl_lock();
 		return err;
@@ -514,6 +544,7 @@ static int genl_rcv_msg(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh)
 	info.genlhdr = nlmsg_data(nlh);
 	info.userhdr = nlmsg_data(nlh) + GENL_HDRLEN;
 	info.attrs = family->attrbuf;
+	genl_info_net_set(&info, net);
 
 	return ops->doit(skb, &info);
 }
@@ -534,6 +565,7 @@ static struct genl_family genl_ctrl = {
 	.name = "nlctrl",
 	.version = 0x2,
 	.maxattr = CTRL_ATTR_MAX,
+	.netnsok = true,
 };
 
 static int ctrl_fill_info(struct genl_family *family, u32 pid, u32 seq,
@@ -650,6 +682,7 @@ static int ctrl_dumpfamily(struct sk_buff *skb, struct netlink_callback *cb)
 
 	int i, n = 0;
 	struct genl_family *rt;
+	struct net *net = sock_net(skb->sk);
 	int chains_to_skip = cb->args[0];
 	int fams_to_skip = cb->args[1];
 
@@ -658,6 +691,8 @@ static int ctrl_dumpfamily(struct sk_buff *skb, struct netlink_callback *cb)
 			continue;
 		n = 0;
 		list_for_each_entry(rt, genl_family_chain(i), family_list) {
+			if (!rt->netnsok && !net_eq(net, &init_net))
+				continue;
 			if (++n < fams_to_skip)
 				continue;
 			if (ctrl_fill_info(rt, NETLINK_CB(cb->skb).pid,
@@ -729,6 +764,7 @@ static int ctrl_getfamily(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 	if (info->attrs[CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_ID]) {
 		u16 id = nla_get_u16(info->attrs[CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_ID]);
 		res = genl_family_find_byid(id);
+		err = -ENOENT;
 	}
 
 	if (info->attrs[CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_NAME]) {
@@ -736,49 +772,61 @@ static int ctrl_getfamily(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 
 		name = nla_data(info->attrs[CTRL_ATTR_FAMILY_NAME]);
 		res = genl_family_find_byname(name);
+		err = -ENOENT;
 	}
 
-	if (res == NULL) {
-		err = -ENOENT;
-		goto errout;
+	if (res == NULL)
+		return err;
+
+	if (!res->netnsok && !net_eq(genl_info_net(info), &init_net)) {
+		/* family doesn't exist here */
+		return -ENOENT;
 	}
 
 	msg = ctrl_build_family_msg(res, info->snd_pid, info->snd_seq,
 				    CTRL_CMD_NEWFAMILY);
-	if (IS_ERR(msg)) {
-		err = PTR_ERR(msg);
-		goto errout;
-	}
+	if (IS_ERR(msg))
+		return PTR_ERR(msg);
 
-	err = genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
-errout:
-	return err;
+	return genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 }
 
 static int genl_ctrl_event(int event, void *data)
 {
 	struct sk_buff *msg;
+	struct genl_family *family;
+	struct genl_multicast_group *grp;
 
-	if (genl_sock == NULL)
+	/* genl is still initialising */
+	if (!init_net.genl_sock)
 		return 0;
 
 	switch (event) {
 	case CTRL_CMD_NEWFAMILY:
 	case CTRL_CMD_DELFAMILY:
-		msg = ctrl_build_family_msg(data, 0, 0, event);
-		if (IS_ERR(msg))
-			return PTR_ERR(msg);
-
-		genlmsg_multicast(msg, 0, GENL_ID_CTRL, GFP_KERNEL);
+		family = data;
+		msg = ctrl_build_family_msg(family, 0, 0, event);
 		break;
 	case CTRL_CMD_NEWMCAST_GRP:
 	case CTRL_CMD_DELMCAST_GRP:
+		grp = data;
+		family = grp->family;
 		msg = ctrl_build_mcgrp_msg(data, 0, 0, event);
-		if (IS_ERR(msg))
-			return PTR_ERR(msg);
-
-		genlmsg_multicast(msg, 0, GENL_ID_CTRL, GFP_KERNEL);
 		break;
+	default:
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	if (IS_ERR(msg))
+		return PTR_ERR(msg);
+
+	if (!family->netnsok) {
+		genlmsg_multicast_netns(&init_net, msg, 0,
+					GENL_ID_CTRL, GFP_KERNEL);
+	} else {
+		rcu_read_lock();
+		genlmsg_multicast_allns(msg, 0, GENL_ID_CTRL, GFP_ATOMIC);
+		rcu_read_unlock();
 	}
 
 	return 0;
@@ -795,6 +843,33 @@ static struct genl_multicast_group notify_grp = {
 	.name		= "notify",
 };
 
+static int __net_init genl_pernet_init(struct net *net)
+{
+	/* we'll bump the group number right afterwards */
+	net->genl_sock = netlink_kernel_create(net, NETLINK_GENERIC, 0,
+					       genl_rcv, &genl_mutex,
+					       THIS_MODULE);
+
+	if (!net->genl_sock && net_eq(net, &init_net))
+		panic("GENL: Cannot initialize generic netlink\n");
+
+	if (!net->genl_sock)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static void __net_exit genl_pernet_exit(struct net *net)
+{
+	netlink_kernel_release(net->genl_sock);
+	net->genl_sock = NULL;
+}
+
+static struct pernet_operations genl_pernet_ops = {
+	.init = genl_pernet_init,
+	.exit = genl_pernet_exit,
+};
+
 static int __init genl_init(void)
 {
 	int i, err;
@@ -804,36 +879,67 @@ static int __init genl_init(void)
 
 	err = genl_register_family(&genl_ctrl);
 	if (err < 0)
-		goto errout;
+		goto problem;
 
 	err = genl_register_ops(&genl_ctrl, &genl_ctrl_ops);
 	if (err < 0)
-		goto errout_register;
+		goto problem;
 
 	netlink_set_nonroot(NETLINK_GENERIC, NL_NONROOT_RECV);
 
-	/* we'll bump the group number right afterwards */
-	genl_sock = netlink_kernel_create(&init_net, NETLINK_GENERIC, 0,
-					  genl_rcv, &genl_mutex, THIS_MODULE);
-	if (genl_sock == NULL)
-		panic("GENL: Cannot initialize generic netlink\n");
+	err = register_pernet_subsys(&genl_pernet_ops);
+	if (err)
+		goto problem;
 
 	err = genl_register_mc_group(&genl_ctrl, &notify_grp);
 	if (err < 0)
-		goto errout_register;
+		goto problem;
 
 	return 0;
 
-errout_register:
-	genl_unregister_family(&genl_ctrl);
-errout:
+problem:
 	panic("GENL: Cannot register controller: %d\n", err);
 }
 
 subsys_initcall(genl_init);
 
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(genl_sock);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(genl_register_ops);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(genl_unregister_ops);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(genl_register_family);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(genl_unregister_family);
+
+static int genlmsg_mcast(struct sk_buff *skb, u32 pid, unsigned long group,
+			 gfp_t flags)
+{
+	struct sk_buff *tmp;
+	struct net *net, *prev = NULL;
+	int err;
+
+	for_each_net_rcu(net) {
+		if (prev) {
+			tmp = skb_clone(skb, flags);
+			if (!tmp) {
+				err = -ENOMEM;
+				goto error;
+			}
+			err = nlmsg_multicast(prev->genl_sock, tmp,
+					      pid, group, flags);
+			if (err)
+				goto error;
+		}
+
+		prev = net;
+	}
+
+	return nlmsg_multicast(prev->genl_sock, skb, pid, group, flags);
+ error:
+	kfree_skb(skb);
+	return err;
+}
+
+int genlmsg_multicast_allns(struct sk_buff *skb, u32 pid, unsigned int group,
+			    gfp_t flags)
+{
+	return genlmsg_mcast(skb, pid, group, flags);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(genlmsg_multicast_allns);
diff --git a/net/tipc/netlink.c b/net/tipc/netlink.c
index 3c57005e44d..7bda8e3d139 100644
--- a/net/tipc/netlink.c
+++ b/net/tipc/netlink.c
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ static int handle_cmd(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 		rep_nlh = nlmsg_hdr(rep_buf);
 		memcpy(rep_nlh, req_nlh, hdr_space);
 		rep_nlh->nlmsg_len = rep_buf->len;
-		genlmsg_unicast(rep_buf, NETLINK_CB(skb).pid);
+		genlmsg_unicast(&init_net, rep_buf, NETLINK_CB(skb).pid);
 	}
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/net/wireless/nl80211.c b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
index 9deb12f73c4..2a04beba436 100644
--- a/net/wireless/nl80211.c
+++ b/net/wireless/nl80211.c
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ static int nl80211_get_wiphy(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 
 	cfg80211_unlock_rdev(dev);
 
-	return genlmsg_unicast(msg, info->snd_pid);
+	return genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 
  out_free:
 	nlmsg_free(msg);
@@ -739,7 +739,7 @@ static int nl80211_get_interface(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 	dev_put(netdev);
 	cfg80211_unlock_rdev(dev);
 
-	return genlmsg_unicast(msg, info->snd_pid);
+	return genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 
  out_free:
 	nlmsg_free(msg);
@@ -1030,7 +1030,7 @@ static int nl80211_get_key(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 		goto nla_put_failure;
 
 	genlmsg_end(msg, hdr);
-	err = genlmsg_unicast(msg, info->snd_pid);
+	err = genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 	goto out;
 
  nla_put_failure:
@@ -1618,7 +1618,7 @@ static int nl80211_get_station(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 				 dev, mac_addr, &sinfo) < 0)
 		goto out_free;
 
-	err = genlmsg_unicast(msg, info->snd_pid);
+	err = genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 	goto out;
 
  out_free:
@@ -2087,7 +2087,7 @@ static int nl80211_get_mpath(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 				 dev, dst, next_hop, &pinfo) < 0)
 		goto out_free;
 
-	err = genlmsg_unicast(msg, info->snd_pid);
+	err = genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 	goto out;
 
  out_free:
@@ -2436,7 +2436,7 @@ static int nl80211_get_mesh_params(struct sk_buff *skb,
 			cur_params.dot11MeshHWMPnetDiameterTraversalTime);
 	nla_nest_end(msg, pinfoattr);
 	genlmsg_end(msg, hdr);
-	err = genlmsg_unicast(msg, info->snd_pid);
+	err = genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 	goto out;
 
  nla_put_failure:
@@ -2624,7 +2624,7 @@ static int nl80211_get_reg(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 	nla_nest_end(msg, nl_reg_rules);
 
 	genlmsg_end(msg, hdr);
-	err = genlmsg_unicast(msg, info->snd_pid);
+	err = genlmsg_reply(msg, info);
 	goto out;
 
 nla_put_failure: