diff --git a/include/linux/rbtree.h b/include/linux/rbtree.h
index a5aa7ae671f4..b6900099ea81 100644
--- a/include/linux/rbtree.h
+++ b/include/linux/rbtree.h
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ struct rb_root {
 #define RB_ROOT	(struct rb_root) { NULL, }
 #define	rb_entry(ptr, type, member) container_of(ptr, type, member)
 
-#define RB_EMPTY_ROOT(root)  ((root)->rb_node == NULL)
+#define RB_EMPTY_ROOT(root)  (READ_ONCE((root)->rb_node) == NULL)
 
 /* 'empty' nodes are nodes that are known not to be inserted in an rbtree */
 #define RB_EMPTY_NODE(node)  \