diff --git a/kernel/kcov.c b/kernel/kcov.c
index b11ef6e51f7e..f1e060b04ef6 100644
--- a/kernel/kcov.c
+++ b/kernel/kcov.c
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ static void kcov_put(struct kcov *kcov)
 
 void kcov_task_init(struct task_struct *t)
 {
-	t->kcov_mode = KCOV_MODE_DISABLED;
+	WRITE_ONCE(t->kcov_mode, KCOV_MODE_DISABLED);
+	barrier();
 	t->kcov_size = 0;
 	t->kcov_area = NULL;
 	t->kcov = NULL;