diff --git a/kernel/sys.c b/kernel/sys.c
index b5b96e30e0d6..9dbcbbcce153 100644
--- a/kernel/sys.c
+++ b/kernel/sys.c
@@ -1272,6 +1272,7 @@ SYSCALL_DEFINE2(old_getrlimit, unsigned int, resource,
 
 #endif
 
+/* make sure you are allowed to change @tsk limits before calling this */
 int do_setrlimit(struct task_struct *tsk, unsigned int resource,
 		struct rlimit *new_rlim)
 {
@@ -1285,9 +1286,16 @@ int do_setrlimit(struct task_struct *tsk, unsigned int resource,
 	if (resource == RLIMIT_NOFILE && new_rlim->rlim_max > sysctl_nr_open)
 		return -EPERM;
 
+	/* protect tsk->signal and tsk->sighand from disappearing */
+	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
+	if (!tsk->sighand) {
+		retval = -ESRCH;
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	retval = security_task_setrlimit(tsk->group_leader, resource, new_rlim);
 	if (retval)
-		return retval;
+		goto out;
 
 	if (resource == RLIMIT_CPU && new_rlim->rlim_cur == 0) {
 		/*
@@ -1322,6 +1330,7 @@ int do_setrlimit(struct task_struct *tsk, unsigned int resource,
 
 	update_rlimit_cpu(tsk, new_rlim->rlim_cur);
 out:
+	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
 	return retval;
 }