diff --git a/security/keys/encrypted-keys/encrypted.c b/security/keys/encrypted-keys/encrypted.c
index c4c8df4b214d..45d5c5926d03 100644
--- a/security/keys/encrypted-keys/encrypted.c
+++ b/security/keys/encrypted-keys/encrypted.c
@@ -845,6 +845,8 @@ static int encrypted_update(struct key *key, struct key_preparsed_payload *prep)
 	size_t datalen = prep->datalen;
 	int ret = 0;
 
+	if (test_bit(KEY_FLAG_NEGATIVE, &key->flags))
+		return -ENOKEY;
 	if (datalen <= 0 || datalen > 32767 || !prep->data)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
diff --git a/security/keys/trusted.c b/security/keys/trusted.c
index e13fcf7636f7..d72ff37e3da9 100644
--- a/security/keys/trusted.c
+++ b/security/keys/trusted.c
@@ -984,13 +984,16 @@ static void trusted_rcu_free(struct rcu_head *rcu)
  */
 static int trusted_update(struct key *key, struct key_preparsed_payload *prep)
 {
-	struct trusted_key_payload *p = key->payload.data;
+	struct trusted_key_payload *p;
 	struct trusted_key_payload *new_p;
 	struct trusted_key_options *new_o;
 	size_t datalen = prep->datalen;
 	char *datablob;
 	int ret = 0;
 
+	if (test_bit(KEY_FLAG_NEGATIVE, &key->flags))
+		return -ENOKEY;
+	p = key->payload.data;
 	if (!p->migratable)
 		return -EPERM;
 	if (datalen <= 0 || datalen > 32767 || !prep->data)
diff --git a/security/keys/user_defined.c b/security/keys/user_defined.c
index faa2caeb593f..8383f36f2ae8 100644
--- a/security/keys/user_defined.c
+++ b/security/keys/user_defined.c
@@ -121,7 +121,10 @@ int user_update(struct key *key, struct key_preparsed_payload *prep)
 
 	if (ret == 0) {
 		/* attach the new data, displacing the old */
-		zap = key->payload.data;
+		if (!test_bit(KEY_FLAG_NEGATIVE, &key->flags))
+			zap = key->payload.data;
+		else
+			zap = NULL;
 		rcu_assign_keypointer(key, upayload);
 		key->expiry = 0;
 	}