diff --git a/kernel/pid.c b/kernel/pid.c
index 386e51fcebb3..677c84e319dd 100644
--- a/kernel/pid.c
+++ b/kernel/pid.c
@@ -215,12 +215,6 @@ struct pid *alloc_pid(struct pid_namespace *ns, pid_t *arg_set_tid,
 			retval = -EINVAL;
 			if (tid < 1 || tid >= pid_max[ns->level - i])
 				goto out_abort;
-			/*
-			 * Also fail if a PID != 1 is requested and
-			 * no PID 1 exists.
-			 */
-			if (tid != 1 && !READ_ONCE(tmp->child_reaper))
-				goto out_abort;
 			retval = -EPERM;
 			if (!checkpoint_restore_ns_capable(tmp->user_ns))
 				goto out_abort;
@@ -296,9 +290,18 @@ struct pid *alloc_pid(struct pid_namespace *ns, pid_t *arg_set_tid,
 
 		pid->numbers[i].nr = nr;
 		pid->numbers[i].ns = tmp;
-		tmp = tmp->parent;
 		i--;
 		retried_preload = false;
+
+		/*
+		 * PID 1 (init) must be created first.
+		 */
+		if (!READ_ONCE(tmp->child_reaper) && nr != 1) {
+			retval = -EINVAL;
+			goto out_free;
+		}
+
+		tmp = tmp->parent;
 	}
 
 	/*