diff --git a/kernel/events/core.c b/kernel/events/core.c
index 1d243fadfd12..fe97f95f204e 100644
--- a/kernel/events/core.c
+++ b/kernel/events/core.c
@@ -1230,9 +1230,9 @@ retry:
 		    !atomic_inc_not_zero(&ctx->refcount)) {
 			raw_spin_unlock(&ctx->lock);
 			ctx = NULL;
+		} else {
+			WARN_ON_ONCE(ctx->task != task);
 		}
-
-		WARN_ON_ONCE(ctx->task != task);
 	}
 	rcu_read_unlock();
 	if (!ctx)