diff --git a/fs/eventpoll.c b/fs/eventpoll.c
index ea54cdef04ddc94d282c22f8c2b721169ee77293..4d9d3a45e35647a19d9182e28422c397f654abb5 100644
--- a/fs/eventpoll.c
+++ b/fs/eventpoll.c
@@ -988,6 +988,10 @@ static int path_count[PATH_ARR_SIZE];
 
 static int path_count_inc(int nests)
 {
+	/* Allow an arbitrary number of depth 1 paths */
+	if (nests == 0)
+		return 0;
+
 	if (++path_count[nests] > path_limits[nests])
 		return -1;
 	return 0;