diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
index 48d640ca1a05..077d0b700f74 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
@@ -1757,8 +1757,8 @@ static int rcu_gp_init(struct rcu_state *rsp)
 		rcu_preempt_check_blocked_tasks(rnp);
 		rnp->qsmask = rnp->qsmaskinit;
 		ACCESS_ONCE(rnp->gpnum) = rsp->gpnum;
-		WARN_ON_ONCE(rnp->completed != rsp->completed);
-		ACCESS_ONCE(rnp->completed) = rsp->completed;
+		if (WARN_ON_ONCE(rnp->completed != rsp->completed))
+			ACCESS_ONCE(rnp->completed) = rsp->completed;
 		if (rnp == rdp->mynode)
 			(void)__note_gp_changes(rsp, rnp, rdp);
 		rcu_preempt_boost_start_gp(rnp);