diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
index e86f32d6b8f9..1ae5f88e475f 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
@@ -3442,15 +3442,14 @@ static inline void kfree_rcu_drain_unlock(struct kfree_rcu_cpu *krcp,
 					  unsigned long flags)
 {
 	// Attempt to start a new batch.
-	krcp->monitor_todo = false;
 	if (queue_kfree_rcu_work(krcp)) {
 		// Success! Our job is done here.
+		krcp->monitor_todo = false;
 		raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&krcp->lock, flags);
 		return;
 	}
 
 	// Previous RCU batch still in progress, try again later.
-	krcp->monitor_todo = true;
 	schedule_delayed_work(&krcp->monitor_work, KFREE_DRAIN_JIFFIES);
 	raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&krcp->lock, flags);
 }