diff --git a/net/ipv4/cipso_ipv4.c b/net/ipv4/cipso_ipv4.c
index 0bd10a1f477f..a23094b050f8 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/cipso_ipv4.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/cipso_ipv4.c
@@ -1258,7 +1258,8 @@ static int cipso_v4_parsetag_rbm(const struct cipso_v4_doi *doi_def,
 			return ret_val;
 		}
 
-		secattr->flags |= NETLBL_SECATTR_MLS_CAT;
+		if (secattr->attr.mls.cat)
+			secattr->flags |= NETLBL_SECATTR_MLS_CAT;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1439,7 +1440,8 @@ static int cipso_v4_parsetag_rng(const struct cipso_v4_doi *doi_def,
 			return ret_val;
 		}
 
-		secattr->flags |= NETLBL_SECATTR_MLS_CAT;
+		if (secattr->attr.mls.cat)
+			secattr->flags |= NETLBL_SECATTR_MLS_CAT;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/net/ipv6/calipso.c b/net/ipv6/calipso.c
index 221c81f85cbf..8d3f66c310db 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/calipso.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/calipso.c
@@ -1047,7 +1047,8 @@ static int calipso_opt_getattr(const unsigned char *calipso,
 			goto getattr_return;
 		}
 
-		secattr->flags |= NETLBL_SECATTR_MLS_CAT;
+		if (secattr->attr.mls.cat)
+			secattr->flags |= NETLBL_SECATTR_MLS_CAT;
 	}
 
 	secattr->type = NETLBL_NLTYPE_CALIPSO;
diff --git a/net/netlabel/netlabel_kapi.c b/net/netlabel/netlabel_kapi.c
index 409a3ae47ce2..5e1239cef000 100644
--- a/net/netlabel/netlabel_kapi.c
+++ b/net/netlabel/netlabel_kapi.c
@@ -734,6 +734,12 @@ int netlbl_catmap_getlong(struct netlbl_lsm_catmap *catmap,
 	if ((off & (BITS_PER_LONG - 1)) != 0)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	/* a null catmap is equivalent to an empty one */
+	if (!catmap) {
+		*offset = (u32)-1;
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	if (off < catmap->startbit) {
 		off = catmap->startbit;
 		*offset = off;