err = get_filter(argp, &code);
                if (err >= 0) {
+                       struct bpf_prog *pass_filter = NULL;
                        struct sock_fprog_kern fprog = {
                                .len = err,
                                .filter = code,
                        };
 
-                       ppp_lock(ppp);
-                       if (ppp->pass_filter) {
-                               bpf_prog_destroy(ppp->pass_filter);
-                               ppp->pass_filter = NULL;
+                       err = 0;
+                       if (fprog.filter)
+                               err = bpf_prog_create(&pass_filter, &fprog);
+                       if (!err) {
+                               ppp_lock(ppp);
+                               if (ppp->pass_filter)
+                                       bpf_prog_destroy(ppp->pass_filter);
+                               ppp->pass_filter = pass_filter;
+                               ppp_unlock(ppp);
                        }
-                       if (fprog.filter != NULL)
-                               err = bpf_prog_create(&ppp->pass_filter,
-                                                     &fprog);
-                       else
-                               err = 0;
                        kfree(code);
-                       ppp_unlock(ppp);
                }
                break;
        }
 
                err = get_filter(argp, &code);
                if (err >= 0) {
+                       struct bpf_prog *active_filter = NULL;
                        struct sock_fprog_kern fprog = {
                                .len = err,
                                .filter = code,
                        };
 
-                       ppp_lock(ppp);
-                       if (ppp->active_filter) {
-                               bpf_prog_destroy(ppp->active_filter);
-                               ppp->active_filter = NULL;
+                       err = 0;
+                       if (fprog.filter)
+                               err = bpf_prog_create(&active_filter, &fprog);
+                       if (!err) {
+                               ppp_lock(ppp);
+                               if (ppp->active_filter)
+                                       bpf_prog_destroy(ppp->active_filter);
+                               ppp->active_filter = active_filter;
+                               ppp_unlock(ppp);
                        }
-                       if (fprog.filter != NULL)
-                               err = bpf_prog_create(&ppp->active_filter,
-                                                     &fprog);
-                       else
-                               err = 0;
                        kfree(code);
-                       ppp_unlock(ppp);
                }
                break;
        }