diff --git a/security/integrity/ima/ima_main.c b/security/integrity/ima/ima_main.c
index 5b0548d75561..be8294915cf7 100644
--- a/security/integrity/ima/ima_main.c
+++ b/security/integrity/ima/ima_main.c
@@ -258,7 +258,8 @@ static int __init init_ima(void)
 	int error;
 
 	error = ima_init();
-	ima_initialized = 1;
+	if (!error)
+		ima_initialized = 1;
 	return error;
 }