diff --git a/kernel/cgroup/rstat.c b/kernel/cgroup/rstat.c
index 6f87352f8219..41ca996568df 100644
--- a/kernel/cgroup/rstat.c
+++ b/kernel/cgroup/rstat.c
@@ -33,12 +33,9 @@ void cgroup_rstat_updated(struct cgroup *cgrp, int cpu)
 		return;
 
 	/*
-	 * Paired with the one in cgroup_rstat_cpu_pop_updated().  Either we
-	 * see NULL updated_next or they see our updated stat.
-	 */
-	smp_mb();
-
-	/*
+	 * Speculative already-on-list test. This may race leading to
+	 * temporary inaccuracies, which is fine.
+	 *
 	 * Because @parent's updated_children is terminated with @parent
 	 * instead of NULL, we can tell whether @cgrp is on the list by
 	 * testing the next pointer for NULL.
@@ -134,13 +131,6 @@ static struct cgroup *cgroup_rstat_cpu_pop_updated(struct cgroup *pos,
 		*nextp = rstatc->updated_next;
 		rstatc->updated_next = NULL;
 
-		/*
-		 * Paired with the one in cgroup_rstat_cpu_updated().
-		 * Either they see NULL updated_next or we see their
-		 * updated stat.
-		 */
-		smp_mb();
-
 		return pos;
 	}