diff --git a/mm/vmscan.c b/mm/vmscan.c
index 23291b9ae871..16b42af393ac 100644
--- a/mm/vmscan.c
+++ b/mm/vmscan.c
@@ -2775,7 +2775,7 @@ static unsigned long balance_pgdat(pg_data_t *pgdat, int order,
 		if (total_scanned && (sc.priority < DEF_PRIORITY - 2)) {
 			if (has_under_min_watermark_zone)
 				count_vm_event(KSWAPD_SKIP_CONGESTION_WAIT);
-			else
+			else if (unbalanced_zone)
 				wait_iff_congested(unbalanced_zone, BLK_RW_ASYNC, HZ/10);
 		}