diff --git a/fs/file.c b/fs/file.c
index 6f6eb2b03af5..c6986dce0334 100644
--- a/fs/file.c
+++ b/fs/file.c
@@ -236,7 +236,8 @@ static inline void __set_close_on_exec(int fd, struct fdtable *fdt)
 
 static inline void __clear_close_on_exec(int fd, struct fdtable *fdt)
 {
-	__clear_bit(fd, fdt->close_on_exec);
+	if (test_bit(fd, fdt->close_on_exec))
+		__clear_bit(fd, fdt->close_on_exec);
 }
 
 static inline void __set_open_fd(unsigned int fd, struct fdtable *fdt)