diff --git a/mm/kmemleak.c b/mm/kmemleak.c
index 91d67eaee050..8d2fcdfeff7f 100644
--- a/mm/kmemleak.c
+++ b/mm/kmemleak.c
@@ -1775,10 +1775,9 @@ void __init kmemleak_init(void)
 	int i;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
-	kmemleak_early_log = 0;
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_KMEMLEAK_DEFAULT_OFF
 	if (!kmemleak_skip_disable) {
+		kmemleak_early_log = 0;
 		kmemleak_disable();
 		return;
 	}
@@ -1796,6 +1795,7 @@ void __init kmemleak_init(void)
 
 	/* the kernel is still in UP mode, so disabling the IRQs is enough */
 	local_irq_save(flags);
+	kmemleak_early_log = 0;
 	if (kmemleak_error) {
 		local_irq_restore(flags);
 		return;