diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
index 176639c6215f..5c23aceecd62 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
@@ -1125,7 +1125,8 @@ static void rcu_initiate_boost(struct rcu_node *rnp, unsigned long flags)
 	__releases(rnp->lock)
 {
 	raw_lockdep_assert_held_rcu_node(rnp);
-	if (!rcu_preempt_blocked_readers_cgp(rnp) && rnp->exp_tasks == NULL) {
+	if (!rnp->boost_kthread_task ||
+	    (!rcu_preempt_blocked_readers_cgp(rnp) && !rnp->exp_tasks)) {
 		raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore_rcu_node(rnp, flags);
 		return;
 	}