diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace.c b/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace.c
index 77857d4f7d0fed1f90470258c12a805286e01c59..c56d73894322bc7445ff745e8430fc7ea3ce8e38 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/ftrace.c
@@ -124,6 +124,10 @@ static void ftrace_mod_code(void)
 	 */
 	mod_code_status = probe_kernel_write(mod_code_ip, mod_code_newcode,
 					     MCOUNT_INSN_SIZE);
+
+	/* if we fail, then kill any new writers */
+	if (mod_code_status)
+		mod_code_write = 0;
 }
 
 void ftrace_nmi_enter(void)