diff --git a/security/keys/key.c b/security/keys/key.c
index 66049183ad8961554cbf0a4ea0ccf403bd0b7579..d97c9394b5dd4f7479e9211a2dbb236503e05d2b 100644
--- a/security/keys/key.c
+++ b/security/keys/key.c
@@ -833,7 +833,6 @@ key_ref_t key_create_or_update(key_ref_t keyring_ref,
 
 	key_check(keyring);
 
-	key_ref = ERR_PTR(-EPERM);
 	if (!(flags & KEY_ALLOC_BYPASS_RESTRICTION))
 		restrict_link = keyring->restrict_link;