diff --git a/kernel/locking/qspinlock.c b/kernel/locking/qspinlock.c
index 56af1fa9874d..d6c3b029bd93 100644
--- a/kernel/locking/qspinlock.c
+++ b/kernel/locking/qspinlock.c
@@ -483,10 +483,8 @@ locked:
 	/*
 	 * contended path; wait for next if not observed yet, release.
 	 */
-	if (!next) {
-		while (!(next = READ_ONCE(node->next)))
-			cpu_relax();
-	}
+	if (!next)
+		next = smp_cond_load_relaxed(&node->next, (VAL));
 
 	arch_mcs_spin_unlock_contended(&next->locked);
 	pv_kick_node(lock, next);