diff --git a/mm/page_alloc.c b/mm/page_alloc.c
index 5703f7fca83261d31606517a3abbae4ee92aec73..a42fa09ee91f018e17810a5f3acdf23939370014 100644
--- a/mm/page_alloc.c
+++ b/mm/page_alloc.c
@@ -3510,35 +3510,42 @@ __alloc_pages_slowpath(gfp_t gfp_mask, unsigned int order,
 	 */
 	alloc_flags = gfp_to_alloc_flags(gfp_mask);
 
+	if (gfp_mask & __GFP_KSWAPD_RECLAIM)
+		wake_all_kswapds(order, ac);
+
+	/*
+	 * The adjusted alloc_flags might result in immediate success, so try
+	 * that first
+	 */
+	page = get_page_from_freelist(gfp_mask, order, alloc_flags, ac);
+	if (page)
+		goto got_pg;
+
+
 retry:
+	/* Ensure kswapd doesn't accidentally go to sleep as long as we loop */
 	if (gfp_mask & __GFP_KSWAPD_RECLAIM)
 		wake_all_kswapds(order, ac);
 
+	if (gfp_pfmemalloc_allowed(gfp_mask))
+		alloc_flags = ALLOC_NO_WATERMARKS;
+
 	/*
 	 * Reset the zonelist iterators if memory policies can be ignored.
 	 * These allocations are high priority and system rather than user
 	 * orientated.
 	 */
-	if (!(alloc_flags & ALLOC_CPUSET) || gfp_pfmemalloc_allowed(gfp_mask)) {
+	if (!(alloc_flags & ALLOC_CPUSET) || (alloc_flags & ALLOC_NO_WATERMARKS)) {
 		ac->zonelist = node_zonelist(numa_node_id(), gfp_mask);
 		ac->preferred_zoneref = first_zones_zonelist(ac->zonelist,
 					ac->high_zoneidx, ac->nodemask);
 	}
 
-	/* This is the last chance, in general, before the goto nopage. */
+	/* Attempt with potentially adjusted zonelist and alloc_flags */
 	page = get_page_from_freelist(gfp_mask, order, alloc_flags, ac);
 	if (page)
 		goto got_pg;
 
-	/* Allocate without watermarks if the context allows */
-	if (gfp_pfmemalloc_allowed(gfp_mask)) {
-
-		page = get_page_from_freelist(gfp_mask, order,
-						ALLOC_NO_WATERMARKS, ac);
-		if (page)
-			goto got_pg;
-	}
-
 	/* Caller is not willing to reclaim, we can't balance anything */
 	if (!can_direct_reclaim) {
 		/*