diff --git a/include/net/gen_stats.h b/include/net/gen_stats.h
index 8cd8185fa2ed..dcf5bfa7d4f1 100644
--- a/include/net/gen_stats.h
+++ b/include/net/gen_stats.h
@@ -45,5 +45,6 @@ extern void gen_kill_estimator(struct gnet_stats_basic *bstats,
 extern int gen_replace_estimator(struct gnet_stats_basic *bstats,
 				 struct gnet_stats_rate_est *rate_est,
 				 spinlock_t *stats_lock, struct nlattr *opt);
+extern int gen_estimator_active(const struct gnet_stats_rate_est *rate_est);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/net/core/gen_estimator.c b/net/core/gen_estimator.c
index 80aa160877e9..3885550f0187 100644
--- a/net/core/gen_estimator.c
+++ b/net/core/gen_estimator.c
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ int gen_new_estimator(struct gnet_stats_basic *bstats,
 
 	return 0;
 }
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(gen_new_estimator);
 
 static void __gen_kill_estimator(struct rcu_head *head)
 {
@@ -275,6 +276,7 @@ void gen_kill_estimator(struct gnet_stats_basic *bstats,
 		call_rcu(&e->e_rcu, __gen_kill_estimator);
 	}
 }
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(gen_kill_estimator);
 
 /**
  * gen_replace_estimator - replace rate estimator configuration
@@ -295,8 +297,30 @@ int gen_replace_estimator(struct gnet_stats_basic *bstats,
 	gen_kill_estimator(bstats, rate_est);
 	return gen_new_estimator(bstats, rate_est, stats_lock, opt);
 }
-
-
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(gen_kill_estimator);
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(gen_new_estimator);
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(gen_replace_estimator);
+
+/**
+ * gen_estimator_active - test if estimator is currently in use
+ * @rate_est: rate estimator statistics
+ *
+ * Returns 1 if estimator is active, and 0 if not.
+ */
+int gen_estimator_active(const struct gnet_stats_rate_est *rate_est)
+{
+	int idx;
+	struct gen_estimator *e;
+
+	ASSERT_RTNL();
+
+	for (idx=0; idx <= EST_MAX_INTERVAL; idx++) {
+		if (!elist[idx].timer.function)
+			continue;
+
+		list_for_each_entry(e, &elist[idx].list, list) {
+			if (e->rate_est == rate_est)
+				return 1;
+		}
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(gen_estimator_active);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_police.c b/net/sched/act_police.c
index e19a0261144a..c39f60cea6ee 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_police.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_police.c
@@ -182,6 +182,12 @@ static int tcf_act_police_locate(struct nlattr *nla, struct nlattr *est,
 		R_tab = qdisc_get_rtab(&parm->rate, tb[TCA_POLICE_RATE]);
 		if (R_tab == NULL)
 			goto failure;
+
+		if (!est && !gen_estimator_active(&police->tcf_rate_est)) {
+			err = -EINVAL;
+			goto failure;
+		}
+
 		if (parm->peakrate.rate) {
 			P_tab = qdisc_get_rtab(&parm->peakrate,
 					       tb[TCA_POLICE_PEAKRATE]);