diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp.c b/net/ipv4/tcp.c
index f79b5a98888c..4ac53c8f0583 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp.c
@@ -2714,7 +2714,8 @@ static void tcp_orphan_update(struct timer_list *unused)
 
 static bool tcp_too_many_orphans(int shift)
 {
-	return READ_ONCE(tcp_orphan_cache) << shift > sysctl_tcp_max_orphans;
+	return READ_ONCE(tcp_orphan_cache) << shift >
+		READ_ONCE(sysctl_tcp_max_orphans);
 }
 
 bool tcp_check_oom(struct sock *sk, int shift)