diff --git a/include/linux/rwsem.h b/include/linux/rwsem.h
index 00d6054687dd2..8a418d9eeb7a4 100644
--- a/include/linux/rwsem.h
+++ b/include/linux/rwsem.h
@@ -53,12 +53,6 @@ struct rw_semaphore {
 #endif
 };
 
-/*
- * Setting all bits of the owner field except bit 0 will indicate
- * that the rwsem is writer-owned with an unknown owner.
- */
-#define RWSEM_OWNER_UNKNOWN	(-2L)
-
 /* In all implementations count != 0 means locked */
 static inline int rwsem_is_locked(struct rw_semaphore *sem)
 {
diff --git a/kernel/locking/rwsem.c b/kernel/locking/rwsem.c
index 81c0d75d5dab2..e6f437bafb235 100644
--- a/kernel/locking/rwsem.c
+++ b/kernel/locking/rwsem.c
@@ -659,8 +659,6 @@ static inline bool rwsem_can_spin_on_owner(struct rw_semaphore *sem,
 	unsigned long flags;
 	bool ret = true;
 
-	BUILD_BUG_ON(!(RWSEM_OWNER_UNKNOWN & RWSEM_NONSPINNABLE));
-
 	if (need_resched()) {
 		lockevent_inc(rwsem_opt_fail);
 		return false;