diff --git a/kernel/sched_fair.c b/kernel/sched_fair.c
index a171138a9402..db3f674ca49d 100644
--- a/kernel/sched_fair.c
+++ b/kernel/sched_fair.c
@@ -3630,7 +3630,7 @@ static inline int nohz_kick_needed(struct rq *rq, int cpu)
 	if (time_before(now, nohz.next_balance))
 		return 0;
 
-	if (!rq->nr_running)
+	if (rq->idle_at_tick)
 		return 0;
 
 	first_pick_cpu = atomic_read(&nohz.first_pick_cpu);