diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_helper.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_helper.c
index 0c4db2f2ac43e3..f22691f8385363 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_helper.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_helper.c
@@ -360,6 +360,9 @@ int nf_conntrack_helper_register(struct nf_conntrack_helper *me)
 	BUG_ON(me->expect_class_max >= NF_CT_MAX_EXPECT_CLASSES);
 	BUG_ON(strlen(me->name) > NF_CT_HELPER_NAME_LEN - 1);
 
+	if (!nf_ct_helper_hash)
+		return -ENOENT;
+
 	if (me->expect_policy->max_expected > NF_CT_EXPECT_MAX_CNT)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
@@ -515,4 +518,5 @@ int nf_conntrack_helper_init(void)
 void nf_conntrack_helper_fini(void)
 {
 	kvfree(nf_ct_helper_hash);
+	nf_ct_helper_hash = NULL;
 }