diff --git a/kernel/pid.c b/kernel/pid.c
index b13b624e2c49..1e8bb6550ec4 100644
--- a/kernel/pid.c
+++ b/kernel/pid.c
@@ -193,10 +193,8 @@ struct pid *alloc_pid(struct pid_namespace *ns)
 	}
 
 	if (unlikely(is_child_reaper(pid))) {
-		if (pid_ns_prepare_proc(ns)) {
-			disable_pid_allocation(ns);
+		if (pid_ns_prepare_proc(ns))
 			goto out_free;
-		}
 	}
 
 	get_pid_ns(ns);
@@ -226,6 +224,10 @@ out_free:
 	while (++i <= ns->level)
 		idr_remove(&ns->idr, (pid->numbers + i)->nr);
 
+	/* On failure to allocate the first pid, reset the state */
+	if (ns->pid_allocated == PIDNS_ADDING)
+		idr_set_cursor(&ns->idr, 0);
+
 	spin_unlock_irq(&pidmap_lock);
 
 	kmem_cache_free(ns->pid_cachep, pid);