diff --git a/security/smack/smackfs.c b/security/smack/smackfs.c
index 5dd1e164f9b1..d27e8b916bfb 100644
--- a/security/smack/smackfs.c
+++ b/security/smack/smackfs.c
@@ -933,6 +933,10 @@ static ssize_t smk_set_cipso(struct file *file, const char __user *buf,
 	if (rc >= 0) {
 		old_cat = skp->smk_netlabel.attr.mls.cat;
 		rcu_assign_pointer(skp->smk_netlabel.attr.mls.cat, ncats.attr.mls.cat);
+		if (ncats.attr.mls.cat)
+			skp->smk_netlabel.flags |= NETLBL_SECATTR_MLS_CAT;
+		else
+			skp->smk_netlabel.flags &= ~(u32)NETLBL_SECATTR_MLS_CAT;
 		skp->smk_netlabel.attr.mls.lvl = ncats.attr.mls.lvl;
 		synchronize_rcu();
 		netlbl_catmap_free(old_cat);