diff --git a/fs/debugfs/inode.c b/fs/debugfs/inode.c
index bbeb563cbe78..86c7f0489620 100644
--- a/fs/debugfs/inode.c
+++ b/fs/debugfs/inode.c
@@ -318,6 +318,9 @@ static struct dentry *start_creating(const char *name, struct dentry *parent)
 	if (!(debugfs_allow & DEBUGFS_ALLOW_API))
 		return ERR_PTR(-EPERM);
 
+	if (!debugfs_initialized())
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOENT);
+
 	pr_debug("creating file '%s'\n", name);
 
 	if (IS_ERR(parent))