diff --git a/fs/verity/enable.c b/fs/verity/enable.c
index 94c2bebfb756..6e31d512d76a 100644
--- a/fs/verity/enable.c
+++ b/fs/verity/enable.c
@@ -358,6 +358,13 @@ int fsverity_ioctl_enable(struct file *filp, const void __user *uarg)
 	err = file_permission(filp, MAY_WRITE);
 	if (err)
 		return err;
+	/*
+	 * __kernel_read() is used while building the Merkle tree.  So, we can't
+	 * allow file descriptors that were opened for ioctl access only, using
+	 * the special nonstandard access mode 3.  O_RDONLY only, please!
+	 */
+	if (!(filp->f_mode & FMODE_READ))
+		return -EBADF;
 
 	if (IS_APPEND(inode))
 		return -EPERM;