diff --git a/include/net/ip.h b/include/net/ip.h
index b5862b975207..250e6ef025a4 100644
--- a/include/net/ip.h
+++ b/include/net/ip.h
@@ -188,6 +188,8 @@ extern int sysctl_ip_dynaddr;
 
 extern void ipfrag_init(void);
 
+extern void ip_static_sysctl_init(void);
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_INET
 #include <net/dst.h>
 
diff --git a/net/ipv4/af_inet.c b/net/ipv4/af_inet.c
index f440a9f54924..354f6b54e492 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/af_inet.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/af_inet.c
@@ -1439,6 +1439,10 @@ static int __init inet_init(void)
 
 	(void)sock_register(&inet_family_ops);
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYSCTL
+	ip_static_sysctl_init();
+#endif
+
 	/*
 	 *	Add all the base protocols.
 	 */
diff --git a/net/ipv4/sysctl_net_ipv4.c b/net/ipv4/sysctl_net_ipv4.c
index 14ef202a2254..d63e9388d92d 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/sysctl_net_ipv4.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/sysctl_net_ipv4.c
@@ -882,4 +882,11 @@ static __init int sysctl_ipv4_init(void)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/* set enough of tree skeleton to get rid of ordering problems */
+void __init ip_static_sysctl_init(void)
+{
+	static ctl_table table[1];
+	register_sysctl_paths(net_ipv4_ctl_path, table);
+}
+
 __initcall(sysctl_ipv4_init);