diff --git a/fs/namei.c b/fs/namei.c
index 9342fa6a38c2..c67ce378c099 100644
--- a/fs/namei.c
+++ b/fs/namei.c
@@ -1028,8 +1028,8 @@ static inline void put_link(struct nameidata *nd)
 		path_put(&last->link);
 }
 
-static int sysctl_protected_symlinks __read_mostly;
-static int sysctl_protected_hardlinks __read_mostly;
+static int sysctl_protected_symlinks __read_mostly = 1;
+static int sysctl_protected_hardlinks __read_mostly = 1;
 static int sysctl_protected_fifos __read_mostly;
 static int sysctl_protected_regular __read_mostly;