diff --git a/security/integrity/ima/ima_policy.c b/security/integrity/ima/ima_policy.c
index ee9aec5e9..99d357e84 100644
--- a/security/integrity/ima/ima_policy.c
+++ b/security/integrity/ima/ima_policy.c
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ static struct ima_rule_entry *arch_policy_entry __ro_after_init;
 static LIST_HEAD(ima_default_rules);
 static LIST_HEAD(ima_policy_rules);
 static LIST_HEAD(ima_temp_rules);
-static struct list_head *ima_rules;
+static struct list_head *ima_rules = &ima_default_rules;
 
 static int ima_policy __initdata;
 
@@ -712,7 +712,6 @@ void __init ima_init_policy(void)
 			  ARRAY_SIZE(default_appraise_rules),
 			  IMA_DEFAULT_POLICY);
 
-	ima_rules = &ima_default_rules;
 	ima_update_policy_flag();
 }