diff --git a/fs/exec.c b/fs/exec.c
index a5fef835ebc5..02bfd980a40c 100644
--- a/fs/exec.c
+++ b/fs/exec.c
@@ -926,10 +926,14 @@ static int de_thread(struct task_struct *tsk)
 	if (!thread_group_leader(tsk)) {
 		struct task_struct *leader = tsk->group_leader;
 
-		sig->notify_count = -1;	/* for exit_notify() */
 		for (;;) {
 			threadgroup_change_begin(tsk);
 			write_lock_irq(&tasklist_lock);
+			/*
+			 * Do this under tasklist_lock to ensure that
+			 * exit_notify() can't miss ->group_exit_task
+			 */
+			sig->notify_count = -1;
 			if (likely(leader->exit_state))
 				break;
 			__set_current_state(TASK_KILLABLE);