diff --git a/security/keys/keyring.c b/security/keys/keyring.c
index a1f6bac647a..9c208c756df 100644
--- a/security/keys/keyring.c
+++ b/security/keys/keyring.c
@@ -201,7 +201,11 @@ static void keyring_destroy(struct key *keyring)
 
 	if (keyring->description) {
 		write_lock(&keyring_name_lock);
-		list_del(&keyring->type_data.link);
+
+		if (keyring->type_data.link.next != NULL &&
+		    !list_empty(&keyring->type_data.link))
+			list_del(&keyring->type_data.link);
+
 		write_unlock(&keyring_name_lock);
 	}