diff --git a/kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c b/kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c
index 3064c50e181e..01fcb807598c 100644
--- a/kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c
+++ b/kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c
@@ -233,8 +233,19 @@ __rwsem_down_read_failed_common(struct rw_semaphore *sem, int state)
 	waiter.type = RWSEM_WAITING_FOR_READ;
 
 	raw_spin_lock_irq(&sem->wait_lock);
-	if (list_empty(&sem->wait_list))
+	if (list_empty(&sem->wait_list)) {
+		/*
+		 * In case the wait queue is empty and the lock isn't owned
+		 * by a writer, this reader can exit the slowpath and return
+		 * immediately as its RWSEM_ACTIVE_READ_BIAS has already
+		 * been set in the count.
+		 */
+		if (atomic_long_read(&sem->count) >= 0) {
+			raw_spin_unlock_irq(&sem->wait_lock);
+			return sem;
+		}
 		adjustment += RWSEM_WAITING_BIAS;
+	}
 	list_add_tail(&waiter.list, &sem->wait_list);
 
 	/* we're now waiting on the lock, but no longer actively locking */