diff --git a/include/linux/sched.h b/include/linux/sched.h
index 11837410690f..942a44c1b8eb 100644
--- a/include/linux/sched.h
+++ b/include/linux/sched.h
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ union rcu_special {
 		u8			blocked;
 		u8			need_qs;
 		u8			exp_hint; /* Hint for performance. */
-		u8			pad; /* No garbage from compiler! */
+		u8			deferred_qs;
 	} b; /* Bits. */
 	u32 s; /* Set of bits. */
 };
diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
index 21611862e083..75110ea75d01 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree_plugin.h
@@ -455,6 +455,7 @@ rcu_preempt_deferred_qs_irqrestore(struct task_struct *t, unsigned long flags)
 		local_irq_restore(flags);
 		return;
 	}
+	t->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.deferred_qs = false;
 	if (special.b.need_qs) {
 		rcu_qs();
 		t->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.need_qs = false;
@@ -605,16 +606,24 @@ static void rcu_read_unlock_special(struct task_struct *t)
 	local_irq_save(flags);
 	irqs_were_disabled = irqs_disabled_flags(flags);
 	if (preempt_bh_were_disabled || irqs_were_disabled) {
-		WRITE_ONCE(t->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.exp_hint, false);
-		/* Need to defer quiescent state until everything is enabled. */
-		if (irqs_were_disabled && use_softirq) {
-			/* Enabling irqs does not reschedule, so... */
+		t->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.exp_hint = false;
+		// Need to defer quiescent state until everything is enabled.
+		if (irqs_were_disabled && use_softirq &&
+		    (in_irq() || !t->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.deferred_qs)) {
+			// Using softirq, safe to awaken, and we get
+			// no help from enabling irqs, unlike bh/preempt.
 			raise_softirq_irqoff(RCU_SOFTIRQ);
+		} else if (irqs_were_disabled && !use_softirq &&
+			   !t->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.deferred_qs) {
+			// Safe to awaken and we get no help from enabling
+			// irqs, unlike bh/preempt.
+			invoke_rcu_core();
 		} else {
-			/* Enabling BH or preempt does reschedule, so... */
+			// Enabling BH or preempt does reschedule, so...
 			set_tsk_need_resched(current);
 			set_preempt_need_resched();
 		}
+		t->rcu_read_unlock_special.b.deferred_qs = true;
 		local_irq_restore(flags);
 		return;
 	}