diff --git a/mm/huge_memory.c b/mm/huge_memory.c
index 25fab7150fa0..afe738358370 100644
--- a/mm/huge_memory.c
+++ b/mm/huge_memory.c
@@ -130,8 +130,14 @@ static int set_recommended_min_free_kbytes(void)
 			      (unsigned long) nr_free_buffer_pages() / 20);
 	recommended_min <<= (PAGE_SHIFT-10);
 
-	if (recommended_min > min_free_kbytes)
+	if (recommended_min > min_free_kbytes) {
+		if (user_min_free_kbytes >= 0)
+			pr_info("raising min_free_kbytes from %d to %lu "
+				"to help transparent hugepage allocations\n",
+				min_free_kbytes, recommended_min);
+
 		min_free_kbytes = recommended_min;
+	}
 	setup_per_zone_wmarks();
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/mm/internal.h b/mm/internal.h
index dc95e979ae56..7e145e8cd1e6 100644
--- a/mm/internal.h
+++ b/mm/internal.h
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ extern void prep_compound_page(struct page *page, unsigned long order);
 #ifdef CONFIG_MEMORY_FAILURE
 extern bool is_free_buddy_page(struct page *page);
 #endif
+extern int user_min_free_kbytes;
 
 #if defined CONFIG_COMPACTION || defined CONFIG_CMA
 
diff --git a/mm/page_alloc.c b/mm/page_alloc.c
index a818d568ddf3..e3758a09a009 100644
--- a/mm/page_alloc.c
+++ b/mm/page_alloc.c
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ static char * const zone_names[MAX_NR_ZONES] = {
 };
 
 int min_free_kbytes = 1024;
-int user_min_free_kbytes;
+int user_min_free_kbytes = -1;
 
 static unsigned long __meminitdata nr_kernel_pages;
 static unsigned long __meminitdata nr_all_pages;