diff --git a/kernel/events/core.c b/kernel/events/core.c
index 15e58d4ea035..132524c8b340 100644
--- a/kernel/events/core.c
+++ b/kernel/events/core.c
@@ -7818,6 +7818,7 @@ inherit_event(struct perf_event *parent_event,
 	      struct perf_event *group_leader,
 	      struct perf_event_context *child_ctx)
 {
+	enum perf_event_active_state parent_state = parent_event->state;
 	struct perf_event *child_event;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
@@ -7851,7 +7852,7 @@ inherit_event(struct perf_event *parent_event,
 	 * not its attr.disabled bit.  We hold the parent's mutex,
 	 * so we won't race with perf_event_{en, dis}able_family.
 	 */
-	if (parent_event->state >= PERF_EVENT_STATE_INACTIVE)
+	if (parent_state >= PERF_EVENT_STATE_INACTIVE)
 		child_event->state = PERF_EVENT_STATE_INACTIVE;
 	else
 		child_event->state = PERF_EVENT_STATE_OFF;