diff --git a/kernel/rcutorture.c b/kernel/rcutorture.c
index 9b58f1eff3ca8990d29f4e4f9b9ad52a621babd4..eb6719c50b4e0deb4546e7479a42bb82a9db90e4 100644
--- a/kernel/rcutorture.c
+++ b/kernel/rcutorture.c
@@ -195,6 +195,8 @@ rcu_torture_writer(void *arg)
 	static DEFINE_RCU_RANDOM(rand);
 
 	VERBOSE_PRINTK_STRING("rcu_torture_writer task started");
+	set_user_nice(current, 19);
+
 	do {
 		schedule_timeout_uninterruptible(1);
 		if (rcu_batches_completed() == oldbatch)
@@ -238,6 +240,8 @@ rcu_torture_reader(void *arg)
 	int pipe_count;
 
 	VERBOSE_PRINTK_STRING("rcu_torture_reader task started");
+	set_user_nice(current, 19);
+
 	do {
 		rcu_read_lock();
 		completed = rcu_batches_completed();