diff --git a/include/net/act_api.h b/include/net/act_api.h
index dbc795ec659e..f21830b7753a 100644
--- a/include/net/act_api.h
+++ b/include/net/act_api.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ struct tc_action {
 #define tcf_qstats	common.tcfa_qstats
 #define tcf_rate_est	common.tcfa_rate_est
 #define tcf_lock	common.tcfa_lock
+#define tcf_goto_chain	common.goto_chain
 
 /* Update lastuse only if needed, to avoid dirtying a cache line.
  * We use a temp variable to avoid fetching jiffies twice.
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ struct tc_action_ops {
 	int     (*lookup)(struct net *net, struct tc_action **a, u32 index);
 	int     (*init)(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **act, int ovr,
-			int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			int bind, bool rtnl_held, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			struct netlink_ext_ack *extack);
 	int     (*walk)(struct net *, struct sk_buff *,
 			struct netlink_callback *, int,
@@ -181,6 +182,10 @@ int tcf_action_dump_old(struct sk_buff *skb, struct tc_action *a, int, int);
 int tcf_action_dump_1(struct sk_buff *skb, struct tc_action *a, int, int);
 int tcf_action_copy_stats(struct sk_buff *, struct tc_action *, int);
 
+int tcf_action_check_ctrlact(int action, struct tcf_proto *tp,
+			     struct tcf_chain **handle,
+			     struct netlink_ext_ack *extack);
+
 #endif /* CONFIG_NET_CLS_ACT */
 
 static inline void tcf_action_stats_update(struct tc_action *a, u64 bytes,
diff --git a/net/sched/act_api.c b/net/sched/act_api.c
index d4b8355737d8..ae44eaa85df8 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_api.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_api.c
@@ -28,18 +28,6 @@
 #include <net/act_api.h>
 #include <net/netlink.h>
 
-static int tcf_action_goto_chain_init(struct tc_action *a, struct tcf_proto *tp)
-{
-	u32 chain_index = a->tcfa_action & TC_ACT_EXT_VAL_MASK;
-
-	if (!tp)
-		return -EINVAL;
-	a->goto_chain = tcf_chain_get_by_act(tp->chain->block, chain_index);
-	if (!a->goto_chain)
-		return -ENOMEM;
-	return 0;
-}
-
 static void tcf_action_goto_chain_fini(struct tc_action *a)
 {
 	tcf_chain_put_by_act(a->goto_chain);
@@ -71,6 +59,48 @@ static void tcf_set_action_cookie(struct tc_cookie __rcu **old_cookie,
 		call_rcu(&old->rcu, tcf_free_cookie_rcu);
 }
 
+int tcf_action_check_ctrlact(int action, struct tcf_proto *tp,
+			     struct tcf_chain **handle,
+			     struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
+{
+	int opcode = TC_ACT_EXT_OPCODE(action), ret = -EINVAL;
+	u32 chain_index;
+
+	if (!opcode)
+		ret = action > TC_ACT_VALUE_MAX ? -EINVAL : 0;
+	else if (opcode <= TC_ACT_EXT_OPCODE_MAX || action == TC_ACT_UNSPEC)
+		ret = 0;
+	if (ret) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "invalid control action");
+		goto end;
+	}
+
+	if (TC_ACT_EXT_CMP(action, TC_ACT_GOTO_CHAIN)) {
+		chain_index = action & TC_ACT_EXT_VAL_MASK;
+		if (!tp) {
+			ret = -EINVAL;
+			NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack,
+				       "can't use goto_chain with NULL proto");
+			goto end;
+		}
+		if (!handle) {
+			ret = -EINVAL;
+			NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack,
+				       "can't put goto_chain on NULL handle");
+			goto end;
+		}
+		*handle = tcf_chain_get_by_act(tp->chain->block, chain_index);
+		if (!*handle) {
+			ret = -ENOMEM;
+			NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack,
+				       "can't allocate goto_chain handle");
+		}
+	}
+end:
+	return ret;
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL(tcf_action_check_ctrlact);
+
 /* XXX: For standalone actions, we don't need a RCU grace period either, because
  * actions are always connected to filters and filters are already destroyed in
  * RCU callbacks, so after a RCU grace period actions are already disconnected
@@ -800,15 +830,6 @@ static struct tc_cookie *nla_memdup_cookie(struct nlattr **tb)
 	return c;
 }
 
-static bool tcf_action_valid(int action)
-{
-	int opcode = TC_ACT_EXT_OPCODE(action);
-
-	if (!opcode)
-		return action <= TC_ACT_VALUE_MAX;
-	return opcode <= TC_ACT_EXT_OPCODE_MAX || action == TC_ACT_UNSPEC;
-}
-
 struct tc_action *tcf_action_init_1(struct net *net, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 				    struct nlattr *nla, struct nlattr *est,
 				    char *name, int ovr, int bind,
@@ -890,10 +911,10 @@ struct tc_action *tcf_action_init_1(struct net *net, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 	/* backward compatibility for policer */
 	if (name == NULL)
 		err = a_o->init(net, tb[TCA_ACT_OPTIONS], est, &a, ovr, bind,
-				rtnl_held, extack);
+				rtnl_held, tp, extack);
 	else
 		err = a_o->init(net, nla, est, &a, ovr, bind, rtnl_held,
-				extack);
+				tp, extack);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto err_mod;
 
@@ -907,19 +928,12 @@ struct tc_action *tcf_action_init_1(struct net *net, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 	if (err != ACT_P_CREATED)
 		module_put(a_o->owner);
 
-	if (TC_ACT_EXT_CMP(a->tcfa_action, TC_ACT_GOTO_CHAIN)) {
-		err = tcf_action_goto_chain_init(a, tp);
-		if (err) {
-			tcf_action_destroy_1(a, bind);
-			NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Failed to init TC action chain");
-			return ERR_PTR(err);
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (!tcf_action_valid(a->tcfa_action)) {
+	if (TC_ACT_EXT_CMP(a->tcfa_action, TC_ACT_GOTO_CHAIN) &&
+	    !a->goto_chain) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "can't use goto chain with NULL chain");
 		tcf_action_destroy_1(a, bind);
-		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Invalid control action value");
-		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
+		err = -EINVAL;
+		return ERR_PTR(err);
 	}
 
 	return a;
diff --git a/net/sched/act_bpf.c b/net/sched/act_bpf.c
index c7633843e223..88a729bdab25 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_bpf.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_bpf.c
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ static void tcf_bpf_prog_fill_cfg(const struct tcf_bpf *prog,
 static int tcf_bpf_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **act,
 			int replace, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
-			struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
+			struct tcf_proto *tp, struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, bpf_net_id);
 	struct nlattr *tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_MAX + 1];
diff --git a/net/sched/act_connmark.c b/net/sched/act_connmark.c
index 8475913f2070..30c4c109c80c 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_connmark.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_connmark.c
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ static const struct nla_policy connmark_policy[TCA_CONNMARK_MAX + 1] = {
 static int tcf_connmark_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			     struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			     int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			     struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			     struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, connmark_net_id);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_csum.c b/net/sched/act_csum.c
index 3dc25b7806d7..1ae120c9ab02 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_csum.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_csum.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ static struct tc_action_ops act_csum_ops;
 
 static int tcf_csum_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			 struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a, int ovr,
-			 int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			 int bind, bool rtnl_held, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			 struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, csum_net_id);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_gact.c b/net/sched/act_gact.c
index b61c20ebb314..727bbca9534b 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_gact.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_gact.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ static const struct nla_policy gact_policy[TCA_GACT_MAX + 1] = {
 static int tcf_gact_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			 struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			 int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
-			 struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
+			 struct tcf_proto *tp, struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, gact_net_id);
 	struct nlattr *tb[TCA_GACT_MAX + 1];
diff --git a/net/sched/act_ife.c b/net/sched/act_ife.c
index 30b63fa23ee2..9b2eb941e093 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_ife.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_ife.c
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ static int populate_metalist(struct tcf_ife_info *ife, struct nlattr **tb,
 static int tcf_ife_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
-			struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
+			struct tcf_proto *tp, struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, ife_net_id);
 	struct nlattr *tb[TCA_IFE_MAX + 1];
diff --git a/net/sched/act_ipt.c b/net/sched/act_ipt.c
index faa1addf89b3..13998231bed5 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_ipt.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_ipt.c
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ static const struct nla_policy ipt_policy[TCA_IPT_MAX + 1] = {
 
 static int __tcf_ipt_init(struct net *net, unsigned int id, struct nlattr *nla,
 			  struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
-			  const struct tc_action_ops *ops, int ovr, int bind)
+			  const struct tc_action_ops *ops, int ovr, int bind,
+			  struct tcf_proto *tp)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, id);
 	struct nlattr *tb[TCA_IPT_MAX + 1];
@@ -205,20 +206,20 @@ static int __tcf_ipt_init(struct net *net, unsigned int id, struct nlattr *nla,
 
 static int tcf_ipt_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a, int ovr,
-			int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			int bind, bool rtnl_held, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	return __tcf_ipt_init(net, ipt_net_id, nla, est, a, &act_ipt_ops, ovr,
-			      bind);
+			      bind, tp);
 }
 
 static int tcf_xt_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 		       struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a, int ovr,
-		       int bind, bool unlocked,
+		       int bind, bool unlocked, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 		       struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	return __tcf_ipt_init(net, xt_net_id, nla, est, a, &act_xt_ops, ovr,
-			      bind);
+			      bind, tp);
 }
 
 static int tcf_ipt_act(struct sk_buff *skb, const struct tc_action *a,
diff --git a/net/sched/act_mirred.c b/net/sched/act_mirred.c
index c8cf4d10c435..69dda57f1097 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_mirred.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_mirred.c
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ static struct tc_action_ops act_mirred_ops;
 static int tcf_mirred_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			   struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			   int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			   struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			   struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, mirred_net_id);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_nat.c b/net/sched/act_nat.c
index c5c1e23add77..526c4c99bcce 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_nat.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_nat.c
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ static const struct nla_policy nat_policy[TCA_NAT_MAX + 1] = {
 
 static int tcf_nat_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla, struct nlattr *est,
 			struct tc_action **a, int ovr, int bind,
-			bool rtnl_held, struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
+			bool rtnl_held,	struct tcf_proto *tp,
+			struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, nat_net_id);
 	struct nlattr *tb[TCA_NAT_MAX + 1];
diff --git a/net/sched/act_pedit.c b/net/sched/act_pedit.c
index 2b372a06b432..1c7a0db7b466 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_pedit.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_pedit.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ static int tcf_pedit_key_ex_dump(struct sk_buff *skb,
 static int tcf_pedit_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			  struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			  int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
-			  struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
+			  struct tcf_proto *tp, struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, pedit_net_id);
 	struct nlattr *tb[TCA_PEDIT_MAX + 1];
diff --git a/net/sched/act_police.c b/net/sched/act_police.c
index ec8ec55e0fe8..a444dd78a244 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_police.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_police.c
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ static const struct nla_policy police_policy[TCA_POLICE_MAX + 1] = {
 static int tcf_police_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			       struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			       int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			       struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			       struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	int ret = 0, tcfp_result = TC_ACT_OK, err, size;
diff --git a/net/sched/act_sample.c b/net/sched/act_sample.c
index 1a0c682fd734..b2154edcb535 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_sample.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_sample.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ static const struct nla_policy sample_policy[TCA_SAMPLE_MAX + 1] = {
 
 static int tcf_sample_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			   struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a, int ovr,
-			   int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			   int bind, bool rtnl_held, struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			   struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, sample_net_id);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_simple.c b/net/sched/act_simple.c
index 902957beceb3..640ee5b785dc 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_simple.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_simple.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ static const struct nla_policy simple_policy[TCA_DEF_MAX + 1] = {
 static int tcf_simp_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			 struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			 int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
-			 struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
+			 struct tcf_proto *tp, struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, simp_net_id);
 	struct nlattr *tb[TCA_DEF_MAX + 1];
diff --git a/net/sched/act_skbedit.c b/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
index cfceed28c333..9a8a0f2d4418 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ static const struct nla_policy skbedit_policy[TCA_SKBEDIT_MAX + 1] = {
 static int tcf_skbedit_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			    struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			    int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			    struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			    struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, skbedit_net_id);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_skbmod.c b/net/sched/act_skbmod.c
index 59710a183bd3..35572d0e4576 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_skbmod.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_skbmod.c
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ static const struct nla_policy skbmod_policy[TCA_SKBMOD_MAX + 1] = {
 static int tcf_skbmod_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			   struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			   int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			   struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			   struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, skbmod_net_id);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_tunnel_key.c b/net/sched/act_tunnel_key.c
index 3f943de9a2c9..eaa4a9c80898 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_tunnel_key.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_tunnel_key.c
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ static void tunnel_key_release_params(struct tcf_tunnel_key_params *p)
 static int tunnel_key_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			   struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			   int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
+			   struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			   struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, tunnel_key_net_id);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_vlan.c b/net/sched/act_vlan.c
index 93fdaf707313..80fd0e238a10 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_vlan.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_vlan.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ static const struct nla_policy vlan_policy[TCA_VLAN_MAX + 1] = {
 static int tcf_vlan_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			 struct nlattr *est, struct tc_action **a,
 			 int ovr, int bind, bool rtnl_held,
-			 struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
+			 struct tcf_proto *tp, struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct tc_action_net *tn = net_generic(net, vlan_net_id);
 	struct nlattr *tb[TCA_VLAN_MAX + 1];
