diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
index d15cdab6aeb48dea45921c92c7d26ce77babf477..e1005f5e8094e5f362ae9e27b614fbea9e288a6c 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ static void rcu_read_unlock_special(struct task_struct *t)
 		      (rdp->grpmask & rnp->expmask) ||
 		      tick_nohz_full_cpu(rdp->cpu);
 		// Need to defer quiescent state until everything is enabled.
-		if (exp && irqs_were_disabled && use_softirq &&
+		if ((exp || in_irq()) && irqs_were_disabled && use_softirq &&
 		    (in_irq() || !t->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.deferred_qs)) {
 			// Using softirq, safe to awaken, and we get
 			// no help from enabling irqs, unlike bh/preempt.