diff --git a/fs/proc/generic.c b/fs/proc/generic.c
index 9eff57c7aef3..91c25a5f770c 100644
--- a/fs/proc/generic.c
+++ b/fs/proc/generic.c
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ static bool pde_subdir_insert(struct proc_dir_entry *dir,
 	/* Add new node and rebalance tree. */
 	rb_link_node(&de->subdir_node, parent, new);
 	rb_insert_color(&de->subdir_node, root);
+	if (S_ISDIR(de->mode))
+		dir->nlink++;
 	return true;
 }
 
@@ -399,7 +401,6 @@ struct proc_dir_entry *proc_register(struct proc_dir_entry *dir,
 		write_unlock(&proc_subdir_lock);
 		goto out_free_inum;
 	}
-	dir->nlink++;
 	write_unlock(&proc_subdir_lock);
 
 	return dp;
@@ -698,6 +699,8 @@ static void pde_erase(struct proc_dir_entry *pde, struct proc_dir_entry *parent)
 {
 	rb_erase(&pde->subdir_node, &parent->subdir);
 	RB_CLEAR_NODE(&pde->subdir_node);
+	if (S_ISDIR(pde->mode))
+		parent->nlink--;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -723,8 +726,6 @@ void remove_proc_entry(const char *name, struct proc_dir_entry *parent)
 			de = NULL;
 		} else {
 			pde_erase(de, parent);
-			if (S_ISDIR(de->mode))
-				parent->nlink--;
 		}
 	}
 	write_unlock(&proc_subdir_lock);
@@ -783,8 +784,6 @@ int remove_proc_subtree(const char *name, struct proc_dir_entry *parent)
 			continue;
 		}
 		next = de->parent;
-		if (S_ISDIR(de->mode))
-			next->nlink--;
 		write_unlock(&proc_subdir_lock);
 
 		proc_entry_rundown(de);