}
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(vcap_set_rule_set_actionset);
 
+/* Check if a rule with this id exists */
+static bool vcap_rule_exists(struct vcap_control *vctrl, u32 id)
+{
+       struct vcap_rule_internal *ri;
+       struct vcap_admin *admin;
+
+       /* Look for the rule id in all vcaps */
+       list_for_each_entry(admin, &vctrl->list, list)
+               list_for_each_entry(ri, &admin->rules, list)
+                       if (ri->data.id == id)
+                               return true;
+       return false;
+}
+
 /* Find a rule with a provided rule id */
 static struct vcap_rule_internal *vcap_lookup_rule(struct vcap_control *vctrl,
                                                   u32 id)
                return ri->data.id;
 
        for (u32 next_id = 1; next_id < ~0; ++next_id) {
-               if (!vcap_lookup_rule(ri->vctrl, next_id)) {
+               if (!vcap_rule_exists(ri->vctrl, next_id)) {
                        ri->data.id = next_id;
                        break;
                }
        if (vctrl->vcaps[admin->vtype].rows == 0)
                return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
        /* Check if a rule with this id already exists */
-       if (vcap_lookup_rule(vctrl, id))
+       if (vcap_rule_exists(vctrl, id))
                return ERR_PTR(-EEXIST);
        /* Check if there is room for the rule in the block(s) of the VCAP */
        maxsize = vctrl->vcaps[admin->vtype].sw_count; /* worst case rule size */