diff --git a/security/keys/keyctl.c b/security/keys/keyctl.c
index aa1d11a29136..365ff85d7e27 100644
--- a/security/keys/keyctl.c
+++ b/security/keys/keyctl.c
@@ -766,6 +766,11 @@ long keyctl_read_key(key_serial_t keyid, char __user *buffer, size_t buflen)
 
 	key = key_ref_to_ptr(key_ref);
 
+	if (test_bit(KEY_FLAG_NEGATIVE, &key->flags)) {
+		ret = -ENOKEY;
+		goto error2;
+	}
+
 	/* see if we can read it directly */
 	ret = key_permission(key_ref, KEY_NEED_READ);
 	if (ret == 0)