diff --git a/kernel/cpuset.c b/kernel/cpuset.c
index cf8203a..fc949e4 100644
--- a/kernel/cpuset.c
+++ b/kernel/cpuset.c
@@ -603,9 +603,7 @@
  * Do not call this routine if in_interrupt().
  *
  * Call without callback_sem or task_lock() held.  May be called
- * with or without manage_sem held.  Except in early boot or
- * an exiting task, when tsk->cpuset is NULL, this routine will
- * acquire task_lock().  We don't need to use task_lock to guard
+ * with or without manage_sem held.  Doesn't need task_lock to guard
  * against another task changing a non-NULL cpuset pointer to NULL,
  * as that is only done by a task on itself, and if the current task
  * is here, it is not simultaneously in the exit code NULL'ing its
@@ -631,9 +629,6 @@
 	struct task_struct *tsk = current;
 	struct cpuset *cs = tsk->cpuset;
 
-	if (unlikely(!cs))
-		return;
-
 	task_lock(tsk);
 	my_cpusets_mem_gen = cs->mems_generation;
 	task_unlock(tsk);
@@ -1836,6 +1831,21 @@
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/*
+ * cpuset_init_early - just enough so that the calls to
+ * cpuset_update_task_memory_state() in early init code
+ * are harmless.
+ */
+
+int __init cpuset_init_early(void)
+{
+	struct task_struct *tsk = current;
+
+	tsk->cpuset = &top_cpuset;
+	tsk->cpuset->mems_generation = atomic_read(&cpuset_mems_generation);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * cpuset_init - initialize cpusets at system boot
  *