diff --git a/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_ftp.c b/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_ftp.c
index 4398a72edec59ffc112ab49d21565853da3a92c7..bed914dc138a218e2f6c0beb6c572c4a3c2c30b4 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_ftp.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/ipvs/ip_vs_ftp.c
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ enum {
 	IP_VS_FTP_EPSV,
 };
 
+static bool exiting_module;
 /*
  * List of ports (up to IP_VS_APP_MAX_PORTS) to be handled by helper
  * First port is set to the default port.
@@ -613,7 +614,7 @@ static void __ip_vs_ftp_exit(struct net *net)
 {
 	struct netns_ipvs *ipvs = net_ipvs(net);
 
-	if (!ipvs)
+	if (!ipvs || !exiting_module)
 		return;
 
 	unregister_ip_vs_app(ipvs, &ip_vs_ftp);
@@ -635,6 +636,7 @@ static int __init ip_vs_ftp_init(void)
  */
 static void __exit ip_vs_ftp_exit(void)
 {
+	exiting_module = true;
 	unregister_pernet_subsys(&ip_vs_ftp_ops);
 	/* rcu_barrier() is called by netns */
 }