diff --git a/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c b/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c
index 37455a12898e..9c310016585b 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c
@@ -1377,6 +1377,7 @@ static bool rcu_torture_one_read(struct torture_random_state *trsp)
 	struct rt_read_seg *rtrsp1;
 	unsigned long long ts;
 
+	WARN_ON_ONCE(!rcu_is_watching());
 	newstate = rcutorture_extend_mask(readstate, trsp);
 	rcutorture_one_extend(&readstate, newstate, trsp, rtrsp++);
 	started = cur_ops->get_gp_seq();