diff --git a/fs/afs/security.c b/fs/afs/security.c
index 3ef504370034c2311fdd50f631856ac95ab76903..bb4ed144d0e446c627fb8b4e391664058d094b87 100644
--- a/fs/afs/security.c
+++ b/fs/afs/security.c
@@ -189,8 +189,9 @@ void afs_cache_permit(struct afs_vnode *vnode, struct key *key, long acl_order)
 	if (!permits)
 		goto out_unlock;
 
-	memcpy(permits->permits, xpermits->permits,
-	       count * sizeof(struct afs_permit));
+	if (xpermits)
+		memcpy(permits->permits, xpermits->permits,
+			count * sizeof(struct afs_permit));
 
 	_debug("key %x access %x",
 	       key_serial(key), vnode->status.caller_access);