diff --git a/security/yama/yama_lsm.c b/security/yama/yama_lsm.c
index 8298e094f4f7..7d5541c6a225 100644
--- a/security/yama/yama_lsm.c
+++ b/security/yama/yama_lsm.c
@@ -373,7 +373,9 @@ static int yama_ptrace_access_check(struct task_struct *child,
 			break;
 		case YAMA_SCOPE_RELATIONAL:
 			rcu_read_lock();
-			if (!task_is_descendant(current, child) &&
+			if (!pid_alive(child))
+				rc = -EPERM;
+			if (!rc && !task_is_descendant(current, child) &&
 			    !ptracer_exception_found(current, child) &&
 			    !ns_capable(__task_cred(child)->user_ns, CAP_SYS_PTRACE))
 				rc = -EPERM;