diff --git a/kernel/audit.c b/kernel/audit.c
index c0696dcfed11..ad77d1e80895 100644
--- a/kernel/audit.c
+++ b/kernel/audit.c
@@ -1092,7 +1092,7 @@ static void __net_exit audit_net_exit(struct net *net)
 		audit_sock = NULL;
 	}
 
-	rcu_assign_pointer(aunet->nlsk, NULL);
+	RCU_INIT_POINTER(aunet->nlsk, NULL);
 	synchronize_net();
 	netlink_kernel_release(sock);
 }