diff --git a/kernel/trace/ftrace.c b/kernel/trace/ftrace.c
index f8c18f15b190..2953d558bbee 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/ftrace.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/ftrace.c
@@ -5043,7 +5043,7 @@ int ftrace_regex_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *file)
 
 		if (filter_hash) {
 			orig_hash = &iter->ops->func_hash->filter_hash;
-			if (!list_empty(&iter->tr->mod_trace))
+			if (iter->tr && !list_empty(&iter->tr->mod_trace))
 				iter->hash->flags |= FTRACE_HASH_FL_MOD;
 		} else
 			orig_hash = &iter->ops->func_hash->notrace_hash;