diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
index c3a32717c42d9..698a7f195f882 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ static void rcu_read_unlock_special(struct task_struct *t)
 		struct rcu_node *rnp = rdp->mynode;
 
 		exp = (t->rcu_blocked_node && t->rcu_blocked_node->exp_tasks) ||
-		      (rdp->grpmask & rnp->expmask) ||
+		      (rdp->grpmask & READ_ONCE(rnp->expmask)) ||
 		      tick_nohz_full_cpu(rdp->cpu);
 		// Need to defer quiescent state until everything is enabled.
 		if (irqs_were_disabled && use_softirq &&