diff --git a/include/linux/torture.h b/include/linux/torture.h
index b2e2b46..f998574 100644
--- a/include/linux/torture.h
+++ b/include/linux/torture.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
 int torture_stutter_init(int s);
 
 /* Initialization and cleanup. */
-void torture_init_begin(char *ttype, bool v, int *runnable);
+bool torture_init_begin(char *ttype, bool v, int *runnable);
 void torture_init_end(void);
 bool torture_cleanup(void);
 bool torture_must_stop(void);
diff --git a/kernel/locking/locktorture.c b/kernel/locking/locktorture.c
index 1952466..dbafeac 100644
--- a/kernel/locking/locktorture.c
+++ b/kernel/locking/locktorture.c
@@ -355,7 +355,8 @@
 		&lock_busted_ops, &spin_lock_ops, &spin_lock_irq_ops,
 	};
 
-	torture_init_begin(torture_type, verbose, &locktorture_runnable);
+	if (!torture_init_begin(torture_type, verbose, &locktorture_runnable))
+		return -EBUSY;
 
 	/* Process args and tell the world that the torturer is on the job. */
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(torture_ops); i++) {
diff --git a/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c b/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c
index 4b7b97f..7fa34f8 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c
@@ -1536,7 +1536,8 @@
 		&rcu_ops, &rcu_bh_ops, &rcu_busted_ops, &srcu_ops, &sched_ops,
 	};
 
-	torture_init_begin(torture_type, verbose, &rcutorture_runnable);
+	if (!torture_init_begin(torture_type, verbose, &rcutorture_runnable))
+		return -EBUSY;
 
 	/* Process args and tell the world that the torturer is on the job. */
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(torture_ops); i++) {
diff --git a/kernel/torture.c b/kernel/torture.c
index ae1723a..0ed0b49 100644
--- a/kernel/torture.c
+++ b/kernel/torture.c
@@ -599,14 +599,20 @@
  * The runnable parameter points to a flag that controls whether or not
  * the test is currently runnable.  If there is no such flag, pass in NULL.
  */
-void __init torture_init_begin(char *ttype, bool v, int *runnable)
+bool __init torture_init_begin(char *ttype, bool v, int *runnable)
 {
 	mutex_lock(&fullstop_mutex);
+	if (torture_type != NULL) {
+		pr_alert("torture_init_begin: refusing %s init: %s running",
+			 ttype, torture_type);
+		mutex_unlock(&fullstop_mutex);
+		return false;
+	}
 	torture_type = ttype;
 	verbose = v;
 	torture_runnable = runnable;
 	fullstop = FULLSTOP_DONTSTOP;
-
+	return true;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(torture_init_begin);
 
@@ -645,6 +651,9 @@
 	torture_shuffle_cleanup();
 	torture_stutter_cleanup();
 	torture_onoff_cleanup();
+	mutex_lock(&fullstop_mutex);
+	torture_type = NULL;
+	mutex_unlock(&fullstop_mutex);
 	return false;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(torture_cleanup);