diff --git a/fs/proc/generic.c b/fs/proc/generic.c
index bc86aa87cc41..5600da30e289 100644
--- a/fs/proc/generic.c
+++ b/fs/proc/generic.c
@@ -756,7 +756,7 @@ int remove_proc_subtree(const char *name, struct proc_dir_entry *parent)
 	while (1) {
 		next = pde_subdir_first(de);
 		if (next) {
-			if (unlikely(pde_is_permanent(root))) {
+			if (unlikely(pde_is_permanent(next))) {
 				write_unlock(&proc_subdir_lock);
 				WARN(1, "removing permanent /proc entry '%s/%s'",
 					next->parent->name, next->name);