diff --git a/kernel/utsname.c b/kernel/utsname.c
index 815237a55af..8a82b4b8ea5 100644
--- a/kernel/utsname.c
+++ b/kernel/utsname.c
@@ -15,6 +15,16 @@
 #include <linux/err.h>
 #include <linux/slab.h>
 
+static struct uts_namespace *create_uts_ns(void)
+{
+	struct uts_namespace *uts_ns;
+
+	uts_ns = kmalloc(sizeof(struct uts_namespace), GFP_KERNEL);
+	if (uts_ns)
+		kref_init(&uts_ns->kref);
+	return uts_ns;
+}
+
 /*
  * Clone a new ns copying an original utsname, setting refcount to 1
  * @old_ns: namespace to clone
@@ -24,14 +34,13 @@ static struct uts_namespace *clone_uts_ns(struct uts_namespace *old_ns)
 {
 	struct uts_namespace *ns;
 
-	ns = kmalloc(sizeof(struct uts_namespace), GFP_KERNEL);
+	ns = create_uts_ns();
 	if (!ns)
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
 	down_read(&uts_sem);
 	memcpy(&ns->name, &old_ns->name, sizeof(ns->name));
 	up_read(&uts_sem);
-	kref_init(&ns->kref);
 	return ns;
 }