diff --git a/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c
index 5064d9383963..9aea23cc0dc5 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/xtensa/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ long arch_ptrace(struct task_struct *child, long request, long addr, long data)
 	 */
 	case PTRACE_KILL:
 		ret = 0;
-		if (child->state == EXIT_ZOMBIE)	/* already dead */
+		if (child->exit_state == EXIT_ZOMBIE)	/* already dead */
 			break;
 		child->exit_code = SIGKILL;
 		child->ptrace &= ~PT_SINGLESTEP;