diff --git a/fs/eventpoll.c b/fs/eventpoll.c
index c5d9880b5fcf..277cc38aeda5 100644
--- a/fs/eventpoll.c
+++ b/fs/eventpoll.c
@@ -1213,7 +1213,7 @@ static noinline void ep_destroy_wakeup_source(struct epitem *epi)
 {
 	struct wakeup_source *ws = ep_wakeup_source(epi);
 
-	rcu_assign_pointer(epi->ws, NULL);
+	RCU_INIT_POINTER(epi->ws, NULL);
 
 	/*
 	 * wait for ep_pm_stay_awake_rcu to finish, synchronize_rcu is