diff --git a/kernel/sched/fair.c b/kernel/sched/fair.c
index 09aac90df89e..aa561c8dc899 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/fair.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/fair.c
@@ -1104,13 +1104,12 @@ static int task_numa_migrate(struct task_struct *p)
 	imp = task_faults(env.p, env.dst_nid) - faults;
 	update_numa_stats(&env.dst_stats, env.dst_nid);
 
-	/*
-	 * If the preferred nid has capacity then use it. Otherwise find an
-	 * alternative node with relatively better statistics.
-	 */
-	if (env.dst_stats.has_capacity) {
+	/* If the preferred nid has capacity, try to use it. */
+	if (env.dst_stats.has_capacity)
 		task_numa_find_cpu(&env, imp);
-	} else {
+
+	/* No space available on the preferred nid. Look elsewhere. */
+	if (env.best_cpu == -1) {
 		for_each_online_node(nid) {
 			if (nid == env.src_nid || nid == p->numa_preferred_nid)
 				continue;