diff --git a/kernel/exit.c b/kernel/exit.c
index 1ea4369..6806c55 100644
--- a/kernel/exit.c
+++ b/kernel/exit.c
@@ -1287,9 +1287,15 @@
 static int wait_consider_task(struct wait_opts *wo, int ptrace,
 				struct task_struct *p)
 {
+	/*
+	 * We can race with wait_task_zombie() from another thread.
+	 * Ensure that EXIT_ZOMBIE -> EXIT_DEAD/EXIT_TRACE transition
+	 * can't confuse the checks below.
+	 */
+	int exit_state = ACCESS_ONCE(p->exit_state);
 	int ret;
 
-	if (unlikely(p->exit_state == EXIT_DEAD))
+	if (unlikely(exit_state == EXIT_DEAD))
 		return 0;
 
 	ret = eligible_child(wo, p);
@@ -1310,7 +1316,7 @@
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (unlikely(p->exit_state == EXIT_TRACE)) {
+	if (unlikely(exit_state == EXIT_TRACE)) {
 		/*
 		 * ptrace == 0 means we are the natural parent. In this case
 		 * we should clear notask_error, debugger will notify us.
@@ -1337,7 +1343,7 @@
 	}
 
 	/* slay zombie? */
-	if (p->exit_state == EXIT_ZOMBIE) {
+	if (exit_state == EXIT_ZOMBIE) {
 		/* we don't reap group leaders with subthreads */
 		if (!delay_group_leader(p)) {
 			/*