diff --git a/kernel/audit.c b/kernel/audit.c
index 779671883349..a0a4544e69ca 100644
--- a/kernel/audit.c
+++ b/kernel/audit.c
@@ -2059,11 +2059,13 @@ void audit_log_cap(struct audit_buffer *ab, char *prefix, kernel_cap_t *cap)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	audit_log_format(ab, " %s=", prefix);
-	CAP_FOR_EACH_U32(i) {
-		audit_log_format(ab, "%08x",
-				 cap->cap[CAP_LAST_U32 - i]);
+	if (cap_isclear(*cap)) {
+		audit_log_format(ab, " %s=0", prefix);
+		return;
 	}
+	audit_log_format(ab, " %s=", prefix);
+	CAP_FOR_EACH_U32(i)
+		audit_log_format(ab, "%08x", cap->cap[CAP_LAST_U32 - i]);
 }
 
 static void audit_log_fcaps(struct audit_buffer *ab, struct audit_names *name)