diff --git a/kernel/taskstats.c b/kernel/taskstats.c
index 5d6a8c54ee85..9aeee511a463 100644
--- a/kernel/taskstats.c
+++ b/kernel/taskstats.c
@@ -237,14 +237,17 @@ static int fill_tgid(pid_t tgid, struct task_struct *tgidtsk,
 	} else
 		get_task_struct(first);
 
-	/* Start with stats from dead tasks */
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&first->signal->stats_lock, flags);
-	if (first->signal->stats)
-		memcpy(stats, first->signal->stats, sizeof(*stats));
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&first->signal->stats_lock, flags);
 
 	tsk = first;
 	read_lock(&tasklist_lock);
+	/* Start with stats from dead tasks */
+	if (first->signal) {
+		spin_lock_irqsave(&first->signal->stats_lock, flags);
+		if (first->signal->stats)
+			memcpy(stats, first->signal->stats, sizeof(*stats));
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&first->signal->stats_lock, flags);
+	}
+
 	do {
 		if (tsk->exit_state == EXIT_ZOMBIE && thread_group_leader(tsk))
 			continue;
@@ -264,7 +267,7 @@ static int fill_tgid(pid_t tgid, struct task_struct *tgidtsk,
 	 * Accounting subsytems can also add calls here to modify
 	 * fields of taskstats.
 	 */
-
+	put_task_struct(first);
 	return 0;
 }