diff --git a/include/net/act_api.h b/include/net/act_api.h
index 59d05feecfb8..05b568b92e59 100644
--- a/include/net/act_api.h
+++ b/include/net/act_api.h
@@ -156,8 +156,6 @@ int tcf_idr_search(struct tc_action_net *tn, struct tc_action **a, u32 index);
 int tcf_idr_create(struct tc_action_net *tn, u32 index, struct nlattr *est,
 		   struct tc_action **a, const struct tc_action_ops *ops,
 		   int bind, bool cpustats);
-void tcf_idr_insert(struct tc_action_net *tn, struct tc_action *a);
-
 void tcf_idr_cleanup(struct tc_action_net *tn, u32 index);
 int tcf_idr_check_alloc(struct tc_action_net *tn, u32 *index,
 			struct tc_action **a, int bind);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_api.c b/net/sched/act_api.c
index 69d4676a402f..fea74060d2c3 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_api.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_api.c
@@ -451,17 +451,6 @@ err1:
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(tcf_idr_create);
 
-void tcf_idr_insert(struct tc_action_net *tn, struct tc_action *a)
-{
-	struct tcf_idrinfo *idrinfo = tn->idrinfo;
-
-	mutex_lock(&idrinfo->lock);
-	/* Replace ERR_PTR(-EBUSY) allocated by tcf_idr_check_alloc */
-	WARN_ON(!IS_ERR(idr_replace(&idrinfo->action_idr, a, a->tcfa_index)));
-	mutex_unlock(&idrinfo->lock);
-}
-EXPORT_SYMBOL(tcf_idr_insert);
-
 /* Cleanup idr index that was allocated but not initialized. */
 
 void tcf_idr_cleanup(struct tc_action_net *tn, u32 index)
@@ -839,6 +828,16 @@ static const struct nla_policy tcf_action_policy[TCA_ACT_MAX + 1] = {
 	[TCA_ACT_OPTIONS]	= { .type = NLA_NESTED },
 };
 
+static void tcf_idr_insert(struct tc_action *a)
+{
+	struct tcf_idrinfo *idrinfo = a->idrinfo;
+
+	mutex_lock(&idrinfo->lock);
+	/* Replace ERR_PTR(-EBUSY) allocated by tcf_idr_check_alloc */
+	WARN_ON(!IS_ERR(idr_replace(&idrinfo->action_idr, a, a->tcfa_index)));
+	mutex_unlock(&idrinfo->lock);
+}
+
 struct tc_action *tcf_action_init_1(struct net *net, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 				    struct nlattr *nla, struct nlattr *est,
 				    char *name, int ovr, int bind,
@@ -921,6 +920,16 @@ struct tc_action *tcf_action_init_1(struct net *net, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto err_mod;
 
+	if (TC_ACT_EXT_CMP(a->tcfa_action, TC_ACT_GOTO_CHAIN) &&
+	    !rcu_access_pointer(a->goto_chain)) {
+		tcf_action_destroy_1(a, bind);
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "can't use goto chain with NULL chain");
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
+	}
+
+	if (err == ACT_P_CREATED)
+		tcf_idr_insert(a);
+
 	if (!name && tb[TCA_ACT_COOKIE])
 		tcf_set_action_cookie(&a->act_cookie, cookie);
 
@@ -931,13 +940,6 @@ struct tc_action *tcf_action_init_1(struct net *net, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 	if (err != ACT_P_CREATED)
 		module_put(a_o->owner);
 
-	if (TC_ACT_EXT_CMP(a->tcfa_action, TC_ACT_GOTO_CHAIN) &&
-	    !rcu_access_pointer(a->goto_chain)) {
-		tcf_action_destroy_1(a, bind);
-		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "can't use goto chain with NULL chain");
-		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
-	}
-
 	return a;
 
 err_mod:
diff --git a/net/sched/act_bpf.c b/net/sched/act_bpf.c
index 04b7bd4ec751..b7d83d01841b 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_bpf.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_bpf.c
@@ -361,9 +361,7 @@ static int tcf_bpf_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (goto_ch)
 		tcf_chain_put_by_act(goto_ch);
 
-	if (res == ACT_P_CREATED) {
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *act);
-	} else {
+	if (res != ACT_P_CREATED) {
 		/* make sure the program being replaced is no longer executing */
 		synchronize_rcu();
 		tcf_bpf_cfg_cleanup(&old);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_connmark.c b/net/sched/act_connmark.c
index 1a8f2f85ea1a..b00105e62334 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_connmark.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_connmark.c
@@ -139,7 +139,6 @@ static int tcf_connmark_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 		ci->net = net;
 		ci->zone = parm->zone;
 
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 		ret = ACT_P_CREATED;
 	} else if (ret > 0) {
 		ci = to_connmark(*a);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_csum.c b/net/sched/act_csum.c
index 428b1ae00123..fa1b1fd10c44 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_csum.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_csum.c
@@ -110,9 +110,6 @@ static int tcf_csum_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (params_new)
 		kfree_rcu(params_new, rcu);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
-
 	return ret;
 put_chain:
 	if (goto_ch)
diff --git a/net/sched/act_ct.c b/net/sched/act_ct.c
index e32c4732ddf8..6119c31dcd07 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_ct.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_ct.c
@@ -740,8 +740,6 @@ static int tcf_ct_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 		tcf_chain_put_by_act(goto_ch);
 	if (params)
 		call_rcu(&params->rcu, tcf_ct_params_free);
-	if (res == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 
 	return res;
 
diff --git a/net/sched/act_ctinfo.c b/net/sched/act_ctinfo.c
index a91fcee810ef..9722204399a4 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_ctinfo.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_ctinfo.c
@@ -269,9 +269,6 @@ static int tcf_ctinfo_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (cp_new)
 		kfree_rcu(cp_new, rcu);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
-
 	return ret;
 
 put_chain:
diff --git a/net/sched/act_gact.c b/net/sched/act_gact.c
index 324f1d1f6d47..faf68a44b845 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_gact.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_gact.c
@@ -139,8 +139,6 @@ static int tcf_gact_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (goto_ch)
 		tcf_chain_put_by_act(goto_ch);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 release_idr:
 	tcf_idr_release(*a, bind);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_ife.c b/net/sched/act_ife.c
index 778371bac93e..488d10476e85 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_ife.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_ife.c
@@ -626,9 +626,6 @@ static int tcf_ife_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (p)
 		kfree_rcu(p, rcu);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
-
 	return ret;
 metadata_parse_err:
 	if (goto_ch)
diff --git a/net/sched/act_ipt.c b/net/sched/act_ipt.c
index 214a03d405cf..02b0cb67643e 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_ipt.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_ipt.c
@@ -189,8 +189,6 @@ static int __tcf_ipt_init(struct net *net, unsigned int id, struct nlattr *nla,
 	ipt->tcfi_t     = t;
 	ipt->tcfi_hook  = hook;
 	spin_unlock_bh(&ipt->tcf_lock);
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 
 err3:
diff --git a/net/sched/act_mirred.c b/net/sched/act_mirred.c
index 27f624971121..8327ef9793ef 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_mirred.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_mirred.c
@@ -194,8 +194,6 @@ static int tcf_mirred_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 		spin_lock(&mirred_list_lock);
 		list_add(&m->tcfm_list, &mirred_list);
 		spin_unlock(&mirred_list_lock);
-
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	}
 
 	return ret;
diff --git a/net/sched/act_mpls.c b/net/sched/act_mpls.c
index f786775699b5..f496c99d9826 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_mpls.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_mpls.c
@@ -273,8 +273,6 @@ static int tcf_mpls_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (p)
 		kfree_rcu(p, rcu);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 put_chain:
 	if (goto_ch)
diff --git a/net/sched/act_nat.c b/net/sched/act_nat.c
index ea4c5359e7df..8b5d2360a4dc 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_nat.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_nat.c
@@ -93,9 +93,6 @@ static int tcf_nat_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla, struct nlattr *est,
 	if (goto_ch)
 		tcf_chain_put_by_act(goto_ch);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
-
 	return ret;
 release_idr:
 	tcf_idr_release(*a, bind);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_pedit.c b/net/sched/act_pedit.c
index b5bc631b96b7..ff4f2437b592 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_pedit.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_pedit.c
@@ -237,8 +237,6 @@ static int tcf_pedit_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	spin_unlock_bh(&p->tcf_lock);
 	if (goto_ch)
 		tcf_chain_put_by_act(goto_ch);
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 
 put_chain:
diff --git a/net/sched/act_police.c b/net/sched/act_police.c
index 89c04c52af3d..8fd23a8b88a5 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_police.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_police.c
@@ -201,8 +201,6 @@ static int tcf_police_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (new)
 		kfree_rcu(new, rcu);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 
 failure:
diff --git a/net/sched/act_sample.c b/net/sched/act_sample.c
index 514456a0b9a8..74450b0f69fc 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_sample.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_sample.c
@@ -116,8 +116,6 @@ static int tcf_sample_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (goto_ch)
 		tcf_chain_put_by_act(goto_ch);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 put_chain:
 	if (goto_ch)
diff --git a/net/sched/act_simple.c b/net/sched/act_simple.c
index 6120e56117ca..6b0617de71c0 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_simple.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_simple.c
@@ -156,8 +156,6 @@ static int tcf_simp_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			goto release_idr;
 	}
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 put_chain:
 	if (goto_ch)
diff --git a/net/sched/act_skbedit.c b/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
index f98b2791ecec..f736da513d53 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
@@ -214,8 +214,6 @@ static int tcf_skbedit_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (goto_ch)
 		tcf_chain_put_by_act(goto_ch);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 put_chain:
 	if (goto_ch)
diff --git a/net/sched/act_skbmod.c b/net/sched/act_skbmod.c
index 888437f97ba6..e858a0a9c045 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_skbmod.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_skbmod.c
@@ -190,8 +190,6 @@ static int tcf_skbmod_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (goto_ch)
 		tcf_chain_put_by_act(goto_ch);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 put_chain:
 	if (goto_ch)
diff --git a/net/sched/act_tunnel_key.c b/net/sched/act_tunnel_key.c
index d55669e14741..bdaa04a9a7fa 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_tunnel_key.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_tunnel_key.c
@@ -392,9 +392,6 @@ static int tunnel_key_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (goto_ch)
 		tcf_chain_put_by_act(goto_ch);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
-
 	return ret;
 
 put_chain:
diff --git a/net/sched/act_vlan.c b/net/sched/act_vlan.c
index 08aaf719a70f..3c26042f4ea6 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_vlan.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_vlan.c
@@ -228,8 +228,6 @@ static int tcf_vlan_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (p)
 		kfree_rcu(p, rcu);
 
-	if (ret == ACT_P_CREATED)
-		tcf_idr_insert(tn, *a);
 	return ret;
 put_chain:
 	if (goto_ch)