diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp_cubic.c b/net/ipv4/tcp_cubic.c
index 4b276d1ed9807057986bd3b050e2e901bf1afec0..06d3d665a9fd1bfda5688907a284de83697273f6 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp_cubic.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp_cubic.c
@@ -306,8 +306,10 @@ static inline void bictcp_update(struct bictcp *ca, u32 cwnd, u32 acked)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (ca->cnt == 0)			/* cannot be zero */
-		ca->cnt = 1;
+	/* The maximum rate of cwnd increase CUBIC allows is 1 packet per
+	 * 2 packets ACKed, meaning cwnd grows at 1.5x per RTT.
+	 */
+	ca->cnt = max(ca->cnt, 2U);
 }
 
 static void bictcp_cong_avoid(struct sock *sk, u32 ack, u32 acked)