diff --git a/kernel/bpf/core.c b/kernel/bpf/core.c
index 4d09e610777f..3f5bf1af0826 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/core.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/core.c
@@ -1579,7 +1579,7 @@ static bool bpf_prog_array_copy_core(struct bpf_prog_array __rcu *array,
 	struct bpf_prog_array_item *item;
 	int i = 0;
 
-	item = rcu_dereference(array)->items;
+	item = rcu_dereference_check(array, 1)->items;
 	for (; item->prog; item++) {
 		if (item->prog == &dummy_bpf_prog.prog)
 			continue;