diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/process.c b/arch/x86/kernel/process.c
index 7fc4d5b0a6a0..4e09d26748cf 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/process.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/process.c
@@ -185,7 +185,8 @@ static void mwait_idle(void)
 static void poll_idle(void)
 {
 	local_irq_enable();
-	cpu_relax();
+	while (!need_resched())
+		cpu_relax();
 }
 
 /*