diff --git a/security/keys/keyctl.c b/security/keys/keyctl.c
index fb111eafcb893e4f5146c74a84f8499d4e1553c4..1c3872aeed14ace421a9d43fc396c43afdd5b93c 100644
--- a/security/keys/keyctl.c
+++ b/security/keys/keyctl.c
@@ -751,16 +751,16 @@ long keyctl_read_key(key_serial_t keyid, char __user *buffer, size_t buflen)
 
 	/* the key is probably readable - now try to read it */
 can_read_key:
-	ret = key_validate(key);
-	if (ret == 0) {
-		ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
-		if (key->type->read) {
-			/* read the data with the semaphore held (since we
-			 * might sleep) */
-			down_read(&key->sem);
+	ret = -EOPNOTSUPP;
+	if (key->type->read) {
+		/* Read the data with the semaphore held (since we might sleep)
+		 * to protect against the key being updated or revoked.
+		 */
+		down_read(&key->sem);
+		ret = key_validate(key);
+		if (ret == 0)
 			ret = key->type->read(key, buffer, buflen);
-			up_read(&key->sem);
-		}
+		up_read(&key->sem);
 	}
 
 error2: