diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_expect.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_expect.c
index 10b130a7b230..f1f0c582db5d 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_expect.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_expect.c
@@ -528,6 +528,12 @@ int nf_ct_expect_related_report(struct nf_conntrack_expect *expect,
 	int ret;
 
 	spin_lock_bh(&nf_conntrack_expect_lock);
+	if (expect->flags & NF_CT_EXPECT_DEAD) {
+		DEBUG_NET_WARN_ON_ONCE(1);
+		ret = -EINVAL;
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	master_help = nfct_help(expect->master);
 	if (!master_help) {
 		ret = -ESHUTDOWN;