diff --git a/kernel/sched/fair.c b/kernel/sched/fair.c
index 8233032a2f01b..5a349fcb634e8 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/fair.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/fair.c
@@ -6561,7 +6561,15 @@ static int detach_tasks(struct lb_env *env)
 		if (!can_migrate_task(p, env))
 			goto next;
 
-		load = task_h_load(p);
+		/*
+		 * Depending of the number of CPUs and tasks and the
+		 * cgroup hierarchy, task_h_load() can return a null
+		 * value. Make sure that env->imbalance decreases
+		 * otherwise detach_tasks() will stop only after
+		 * detaching up to loop_max tasks.
+		 */
+		load = max_t(unsigned long, task_h_load(p), 1);
+
 
 		if (sched_feat(LB_MIN) && load < 16 && !env->sd->nr_balance_failed)
 			goto next;