diff --git a/include/linux/rcupdate.h b/include/linux/rcupdate.h
index fcea332a8424..c84373626336 100644
--- a/include/linux/rcupdate.h
+++ b/include/linux/rcupdate.h
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ static inline int rcu_read_lock_bh_held(void)
 
 static inline int rcu_read_lock_sched_held(void)
 {
-	return preempt_count() != 0;
+	return preempt_count() != 0 || !rcu_scheduler_active;
 }
 
 #endif /* #else #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_LOCK_ALLOC */