diff --git a/kernel/exit.c b/kernel/exit.c
index decf648574f6c9..e354cbb13a9b77 100644
--- a/kernel/exit.c
+++ b/kernel/exit.c
@@ -560,9 +560,6 @@ static void reparent_leader(struct task_struct *father, struct task_struct *p,
 				struct list_head *dead)
 {
 	list_move_tail(&p->sibling, &p->real_parent->children);
-
-	if (p->exit_state == EXIT_DEAD)
-		return;
 	/*
 	 * If this is a threaded reparent there is no need to
 	 * notify anyone anything has happened.
@@ -570,9 +567,19 @@ static void reparent_leader(struct task_struct *father, struct task_struct *p,
 	if (same_thread_group(p->real_parent, father))
 		return;
 
-	/* We don't want people slaying init.  */
+	/*
+	 * We don't want people slaying init.
+	 *
+	 * Note: we do this even if it is EXIT_DEAD, wait_task_zombie()
+	 * can change ->exit_state to EXIT_ZOMBIE. If this is the final
+	 * state, do_notify_parent() was already called and ->exit_signal
+	 * doesn't matter.
+	 */
 	p->exit_signal = SIGCHLD;
 
+	if (p->exit_state == EXIT_DEAD)
+		return;
+
 	/* If it has exited notify the new parent about this child's death. */
 	if (!p->ptrace &&
 	    p->exit_state == EXIT_ZOMBIE && thread_group_empty(p)) {