@@ -, +, @@ 
+Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 0000000000000028 RIP:
+ [<ffffffff802899a5>] pipe_rdwr_open+0x35/0x70
+ [<ffffffff8028125c>] __dentry_open+0x13c/0x230
+ [<ffffffff8028143d>] do_filp_open+0x2d/0x40
+ [<ffffffff802814aa>] do_sys_open+0x5a/0x100
+ [<ffffffff8021faf3>] sysenter_do_call+0x1b/0x67
   { echo y ; sleep 1 ; } | { while read ; do echo z$REPLY; done ; } &
   PID=$!
   OUT=$(ps -efl | grep 'sleep 1' | grep -v grep |
        { read PID REST ; echo $PID; } )
   OUT="${OUT%% *}"
   DELAY=$((RANDOM * 1000 / 32768))
   usleep $((DELAY * 1000 + RANDOM % 1000 ))
   echo n > /proc/$OUT/fd/1                 # Trigger defect
 static int
 pipe_rdwr_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 {
       msleep(100);
       mutex_lock(&inode->i_mutex);
---
--- a/fs/pipe.c	
+++ a/fs/pipe.c	
@@ -777,36 +777,55 @@ pipe_rdwr_release(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 static int
 pipe_read_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 {
-	/* We could have perhaps used atomic_t, but this and friends
-	   below are the only places.  So it doesn't seem worthwhile.  */
+	int ret = -ENOENT;
+
 	mutex_lock(&inode->i_mutex);
-	inode->i_pipe->readers++;
+
+	if (inode->i_pipe) {
+		ret = 0;
+		inode->i_pipe->readers++;
+	}
+
 	mutex_unlock(&inode->i_mutex);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int
 pipe_write_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 {
+	int ret = -ENOENT;
+
 	mutex_lock(&inode->i_mutex);
-	inode->i_pipe->writers++;
+
+	if (inode->i_pipe) {
+		ret = 0;
+		inode->i_pipe->writers++;
+	}
+
 	mutex_unlock(&inode->i_mutex);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static int
 pipe_rdwr_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 {
+	int ret = -ENOENT;
+
 	mutex_lock(&inode->i_mutex);
-	if (filp->f_mode & FMODE_READ)
-		inode->i_pipe->readers++;
-	if (filp->f_mode & FMODE_WRITE)
-		inode->i_pipe->writers++;
+
+	if (inode->i_pipe) {
+		ret = 0;
+		if (filp->f_mode & FMODE_READ)
+			inode->i_pipe->readers++;
+		if (filp->f_mode & FMODE_WRITE)
+			inode->i_pipe->writers++;
+	}
+
 	mutex_unlock(&inode->i_mutex);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /*