diff --git a/mm/huge_memory.c b/mm/huge_memory.c
index 624671aaa60d..9ccdb3fe3244 100644
--- a/mm/huge_memory.c
+++ b/mm/huge_memory.c
@@ -2792,12 +2792,19 @@ void free_transhuge_page(struct page *page)
 	struct deferred_split *ds_queue = get_deferred_split_queue(folio);
 	unsigned long flags;
 
-	spin_lock_irqsave(&ds_queue->split_queue_lock, flags);
-	if (!list_empty(&folio->_deferred_list)) {
-		ds_queue->split_queue_len--;
-		list_del(&folio->_deferred_list);
+	/*
+	 * At this point, there is no one trying to add the folio to
+	 * deferred_list. If folio is not in deferred_list, it's safe
+	 * to check without acquiring the split_queue_lock.
+	 */
+	if (data_race(!list_empty(&folio->_deferred_list))) {
+		spin_lock_irqsave(&ds_queue->split_queue_lock, flags);
+		if (!list_empty(&folio->_deferred_list)) {
+			ds_queue->split_queue_len--;
+			list_del(&folio->_deferred_list);
+		}
+		spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ds_queue->split_queue_lock, flags);
 	}
-	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&ds_queue->split_queue_lock, flags);
 	free_compound_page(page);
 }