diff --git a/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c
index bbd3753..9969d21 100644
--- a/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/alpha/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -265,30 +265,16 @@
 	lock_kernel();
 	DBG(DBG_MEM, ("request=%ld pid=%ld addr=0x%lx data=0x%lx\n",
 		      request, pid, addr, data));
-	ret = -EPERM;
 	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		/* are we already being traced? */
-		if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED)
-			goto out_notsk;
-		ret = security_ptrace(current->parent, current);
-		if (ret)
-			goto out_notsk;
-		/* set the ptrace bit in the process ptrace flags. */
-		current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
-		ret = 0;
+		ret = ptrace_traceme();
 		goto out_notsk;
 	}
-	if (pid == 1)		/* you may not mess with init */
-		goto out_notsk;
 
-	ret = -ESRCH;
-	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
-	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
-	if (child)
-		get_task_struct(child);
-	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
-	if (!child)
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(child);
 		goto out_notsk;
+	}
 
 	if (request == PTRACE_ATTACH) {
 		ret = ptrace_attach(child);
diff --git a/arch/ia64/ia32/sys_ia32.c b/arch/ia64/ia32/sys_ia32.c
index dc28271..9f8e8d5 100644
--- a/arch/ia64/ia32/sys_ia32.c
+++ b/arch/ia64/ia32/sys_ia32.c
@@ -1761,21 +1761,15 @@
 
 	lock_kernel();
 	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		ret = sys_ptrace(request, pid, addr, data);
+		ret = ptrace_traceme();
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	ret = -ESRCH;
-	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
-	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
-	if (child)
-		get_task_struct(child);
-	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
-	if (!child)
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(child);
 		goto out;
-	ret = -EPERM;
-	if (pid == 1)		/* no messing around with init! */
-		goto out_tsk;
+	}
 
 	if (request == PTRACE_ATTACH) {
 		ret = sys_ptrace(request, pid, addr, data);
diff --git a/arch/ia64/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/ia64/kernel/ptrace.c
index 4b19d04..8d88eee 100644
--- a/arch/ia64/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/ia64/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -1422,14 +1422,7 @@
 	lock_kernel();
 	ret = -EPERM;
 	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		/* are we already being traced? */
-		if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED)
-			goto out;
-		ret = security_ptrace(current->parent, current);
-		if (ret)
-			goto out;
-		current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
-		ret = 0;
+		ret = ptrace_traceme();
 		goto out;
 	}
 
diff --git a/arch/m32r/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/m32r/kernel/ptrace.c
index 078d2a0..9b75caa 100644
--- a/arch/m32r/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/m32r/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -762,28 +762,16 @@
 	int ret;
 
 	lock_kernel();
-	ret = -EPERM;
 	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		/* are we already being traced? */
-		if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED)
-			goto out;
-		/* set the ptrace bit in the process flags. */
-		current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
-		ret = 0;
+		ret = ptrace_traceme();
 		goto out;
 	}
-	ret = -ESRCH;
-	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
-	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
-	if (child)
-		get_task_struct(child);
-	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
-	if (!child)
-		goto out;
 
-	ret = -EPERM;
-	if (pid == 1)		/* you may not mess with init */
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(child);
 		goto out;
+	}
 
 	if (request == PTRACE_ATTACH) {
 		ret = ptrace_attach(child);
diff --git a/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace32.c b/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace32.c
index 9a9b049..7e55457 100644
--- a/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace32.c
+++ b/arch/mips/kernel/ptrace32.c
@@ -57,30 +57,16 @@
 	       (unsigned long) data);
 #endif
 	lock_kernel();
-	ret = -EPERM;
 	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		/* are we already being traced? */
-		if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED)
-			goto out;
-		if ((ret = security_ptrace(current->parent, current)))
-			goto out;
-		/* set the ptrace bit in the process flags. */
-		current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
-		ret = 0;
+		ret = ptrace_traceme();
 		goto out;
 	}
-	ret = -ESRCH;
-	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
-	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
-	if (child)
-		get_task_struct(child);
-	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
-	if (!child)
-		goto out;
 
-	ret = -EPERM;
-	if (pid == 1)		/* you may not mess with init */
-		goto out_tsk;
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(child);
+		goto out;
+	}
 
 	if (request == PTRACE_ATTACH) {
 		ret = ptrace_attach(child);
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/kernel/ptrace32.c b/arch/powerpc/kernel/ptrace32.c
index 6176264..826ee3d 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/kernel/ptrace32.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/kernel/ptrace32.c
@@ -45,33 +45,19 @@
 		       unsigned long data)
 {
 	struct task_struct *child;
-	int ret = -EPERM;
+	int ret;
 
 	lock_kernel();
 	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		/* are we already being traced? */
-		if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED)
-			goto out;
-		ret = security_ptrace(current->parent, current);
-		if (ret)
-			goto out;
-		/* set the ptrace bit in the process flags. */
-		current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
-		ret = 0;
+		ret = ptrace_traceme();
 		goto out;
 	}
-	ret = -ESRCH;
-	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
-	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
-	if (child)
-		get_task_struct(child);
-	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
-	if (!child)
-		goto out;
 
-	ret = -EPERM;
-	if (pid == 1)		/* you may not mess with init */
-		goto out_tsk;
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(child);
+		goto out;
+	}
 
 	if (request == PTRACE_ATTACH) {
 		ret = ptrace_attach(child);
diff --git a/arch/s390/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/s390/kernel/ptrace.c
index 8ecda6d..cc02232 100644
--- a/arch/s390/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/s390/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -712,35 +712,18 @@
 	int ret;
 
 	lock_kernel();
-
 	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		/* are we already being traced? */
-		ret = -EPERM;
-		if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED)
-			goto out;
-		ret = security_ptrace(current->parent, current);
-		if (ret)
-			goto out;
-		/* set the ptrace bit in the process flags. */
-		current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
+		 ret = ptrace_traceme();
+		 goto out;
+	}
+
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(child);
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	ret = -EPERM;
-	if (pid == 1)		/* you may not mess with init */
-		goto out;
-
-	ret = -ESRCH;
-	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
-	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
-	if (child)
-		get_task_struct(child);
-	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
-	if (!child)
-		goto out;
-
 	ret = do_ptrace(child, request, addr, data);
-
 	put_task_struct(child);
 out:
 	unlock_kernel();
diff --git a/arch/sparc/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/sparc/kernel/ptrace.c
index 475c4c1..fc470c0 100644
--- a/arch/sparc/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/sparc/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -286,40 +286,17 @@
 			       s, (int) request, (int) pid, addr, data, addr2);
 	}
 #endif
+
 	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		int my_ret;
-
-		/* are we already being traced? */
-		if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED) {
-			pt_error_return(regs, EPERM);
-			goto out;
-		}
-		my_ret = security_ptrace(current->parent, current);
-		if (my_ret) {
-			pt_error_return(regs, -my_ret);
-			goto out;
-		}
-
-		/* set the ptrace bit in the process flags. */
-		current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
+		ret = ptrace_traceme();
 		pt_succ_return(regs, 0);
 		goto out;
 	}
-#ifndef ALLOW_INIT_TRACING
-	if (pid == 1) {
-		/* Can't dork with init. */
-		pt_error_return(regs, EPERM);
-		goto out;
-	}
-#endif
-	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
-	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
-	if (child)
-		get_task_struct(child);
-	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
 
-	if (!child) {
-		pt_error_return(regs, ESRCH);
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(child);
+		pt_error_return(regs, -ret);
 		goto out;
 	}
 
diff --git a/arch/sparc64/kernel/ptrace.c b/arch/sparc64/kernel/ptrace.c
index 774ecbb..84d3df2 100644
--- a/arch/sparc64/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/arch/sparc64/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -198,39 +198,15 @@
 	}
 #endif
 	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		int ret;
-
-		/* are we already being traced? */
-		if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED) {
-			pt_error_return(regs, EPERM);
-			goto out;
-		}
-		ret = security_ptrace(current->parent, current);
-		if (ret) {
-			pt_error_return(regs, -ret);
-			goto out;
-		}
-
-		/* set the ptrace bit in the process flags. */
-		current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
+		ret = ptrace_traceme();
 		pt_succ_return(regs, 0);
 		goto out;
 	}
-#ifndef ALLOW_INIT_TRACING
-	if (pid == 1) {
-		/* Can't dork with init. */
-		pt_error_return(regs, EPERM);
-		goto out;
-	}
-#endif
-	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
-	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
-	if (child)
-		get_task_struct(child);
-	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
 
-	if (!child) {
-		pt_error_return(regs, ESRCH);
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(child);
+		pt_error_return(regs, -ret);
 		goto out;
 	}
 
diff --git a/arch/x86_64/ia32/ptrace32.c b/arch/x86_64/ia32/ptrace32.c
index 2a925e2..5f4cdfa 100644
--- a/arch/x86_64/ia32/ptrace32.c
+++ b/arch/x86_64/ia32/ptrace32.c
@@ -196,36 +196,6 @@
 
 #undef R32
 
-static struct task_struct *find_target(int request, int pid, int *err)
-{ 
-	struct task_struct *child;
-
-	*err = -EPERM; 
-	if (pid == 1)
-		return NULL; 
-
-	*err = -ESRCH;
-	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
-	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
-	if (child)
-		get_task_struct(child);
-	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
-	if (child) { 
-		*err = -EPERM;
-		if (child->pid == 1) 
-			goto out;
-		*err = ptrace_check_attach(child, request == PTRACE_KILL); 
-		if (*err < 0) 
-			goto out;
-		return child; 
-	} 
- out:
-	if (child)
-	put_task_struct(child);
-	return NULL; 
-	
-} 
-
 asmlinkage long sys32_ptrace(long request, u32 pid, u32 addr, u32 data)
 {
 	struct task_struct *child;
@@ -254,9 +224,16 @@
 		break;
 	} 
 
-	child = find_target(request, pid, &ret);
-	if (!child)
-		return ret;
+	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME)
+		return ptrace_traceme();
+
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child))
+		return PTR_ERR(child);
+
+	ret = ptrace_check_attach(child, request == PTRACE_KILL);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		goto out;
 
 	childregs = (struct pt_regs *)(child->thread.rsp0 - sizeof(struct pt_regs)); 
 
@@ -373,6 +350,7 @@
 		break;
 	}
 
+ out:
 	put_task_struct(child);
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/include/linux/ptrace.h b/include/linux/ptrace.h
index b2b3dba..8647919 100644
--- a/include/linux/ptrace.h
+++ b/include/linux/ptrace.h
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@
 
 
 extern long arch_ptrace(struct task_struct *child, long request, long addr, long data);
+extern struct task_struct *ptrace_get_task_struct(pid_t pid);
+extern int ptrace_traceme(void);
 extern int ptrace_readdata(struct task_struct *tsk, unsigned long src, char __user *dst, int len);
 extern int ptrace_writedata(struct task_struct *tsk, char __user *src, unsigned long dst, int len);
 extern int ptrace_attach(struct task_struct *tsk);
diff --git a/kernel/ptrace.c b/kernel/ptrace.c
index 656476e..cceaf09 100644
--- a/kernel/ptrace.c
+++ b/kernel/ptrace.c
@@ -408,54 +408,62 @@
 	return ret;
 }
 
-#ifndef __ARCH_SYS_PTRACE
-static int ptrace_get_task_struct(long request, long pid,
-		struct task_struct **childp)
+/**
+ * ptrace_traceme  --  helper for PTRACE_TRACEME
+ *
+ * Performs checks and sets PT_PTRACED.
+ * Should be used by all ptrace implementations for PTRACE_TRACEME.
+ */
+int ptrace_traceme(void)
 {
-	struct task_struct *child;
 	int ret;
 
 	/*
-	 * Callers use child == NULL as an indication to exit early even
-	 * when the return value is 0, so make sure it is non-NULL here.
+	 * Are we already being traced?
 	 */
-	*childp = NULL;
+	if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED)
+		return -EPERM;
+	ret = security_ptrace(current->parent, current);
+	if (ret)
+		return -EPERM;
+	/*
+	 * Set the ptrace bit in the process ptrace flags.
+	 */
+	current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
+	return 0;
+}
 
-	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
-		/*
-		 * Are we already being traced?
-		 */
-		if (current->ptrace & PT_PTRACED)
-			return -EPERM;
-		ret = security_ptrace(current->parent, current);
-		if (ret)
-			return -EPERM;
-		/*
-		 * Set the ptrace bit in the process ptrace flags.
-		 */
-		current->ptrace |= PT_PTRACED;
-		return 0;
-	}
+/**
+ * ptrace_get_task_struct  --  grab a task struct reference for ptrace
+ * @pid:       process id to grab a task_struct reference of
+ *
+ * This function is a helper for ptrace implementations.  It checks
+ * permissions and then grabs a task struct for use of the actual
+ * ptrace implementation.
+ *
+ * Returns the task_struct for @pid or an ERR_PTR() on failure.
+ */
+struct task_struct *ptrace_get_task_struct(pid_t pid)
+{
+	struct task_struct *child;
 
 	/*
-	 * You may not mess with init
+	 * Tracing init is not allowed.
 	 */
 	if (pid == 1)
-		return -EPERM;
+		return ERR_PTR(-EPERM);
 
-	ret = -ESRCH;
 	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
 	child = find_task_by_pid(pid);
 	if (child)
 		get_task_struct(child);
 	read_unlock(&tasklist_lock);
 	if (!child)
-		return -ESRCH;
-
-	*childp = child;
-	return 0;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ESRCH);
+	return child;
 }
 
+#ifndef __ARCH_SYS_PTRACE
 asmlinkage long sys_ptrace(long request, long pid, long addr, long data)
 {
 	struct task_struct *child;
@@ -465,9 +473,16 @@
 	 * This lock_kernel fixes a subtle race with suid exec
 	 */
 	lock_kernel();
-	ret = ptrace_get_task_struct(request, pid, &child);
-	if (!child)
+	if (request == PTRACE_TRACEME) {
+		ret = ptrace_traceme();
 		goto out;
+	}
+
+	child = ptrace_get_task_struct(pid);
+	if (IS_ERR(child)) {
+		ret = PTR_ERR(child);
+		goto out;
+	}
 
 	if (request == PTRACE_ATTACH) {
 		ret = ptrace_attach(child);