diff --git a/mm/migrate.c b/mm/migrate.c
index 0413596fc523..0e9888cb33ad 100644
--- a/mm/migrate.c
+++ b/mm/migrate.c
@@ -911,7 +911,7 @@ static int fallback_migrate_page(struct address_space *mapping,
 	 */
 	if (page_has_private(page) &&
 	    !try_to_release_page(page, GFP_KERNEL))
-		return -EAGAIN;
+		return mode == MIGRATE_SYNC ? -EAGAIN : -EBUSY;
 
 	return migrate_page(mapping, newpage, page, mode);
 }