--- a/kernel/sys.c
+++ b/kernel/sys.c
@@ -1458,8 +1458,14 @@ asmlinkage long sys_setrlimit(unsigned i
 	if ((new_rlim.rlim_max > old_rlim->rlim_max) &&
 	    !capable(CAP_SYS_RESOURCE))
 		return -EPERM;
-	if (resource == RLIMIT_NOFILE && new_rlim.rlim_max > sysctl_nr_open)
-		return -EPERM;
+	if (resource == RLIMIT_NOFILE) {
+		if (new_rlim.rlim_max == RLIM_INFINITY)
+			new_rlim.rlim_max = sysctl_nr_open;
+		if (new_rlim.rlim_cur == RLIM_INFINITY)
+			new_rlim.rlim_cur = sysctl_nr_open;
+		if (new_rlim.rlim_max > sysctl_nr_open)
+			return -EPERM;
+	}
 
 	retval = security_task_setrlimit(resource, &new_rlim);
 	if (retval)