diff --git a/kernel/bpf/task_iter.c b/kernel/bpf/task_iter.c
index 232df29793e96..f21b5e1e4540e 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/task_iter.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/task_iter.c
@@ -178,10 +178,11 @@ task_file_seq_get_next(struct bpf_iter_seq_task_file_info *info,
 		f = fcheck_files(curr_files, curr_fd);
 		if (!f)
 			continue;
+		if (!get_file_rcu(f))
+			continue;
 
 		/* set info->fd */
 		info->fd = curr_fd;
-		get_file(f);
 		rcu_read_unlock();
 		return f;
 	}