diff --git a/kernel/rcutiny_plugin.h b/kernel/rcutiny_plugin.h
index 95df60ebe363..387c2759e1b0 100644
--- a/kernel/rcutiny_plugin.h
+++ b/kernel/rcutiny_plugin.h
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ static noinline void rcu_read_unlock_special(struct task_struct *t)
 		rcu_preempt_cpu_qs();
 
 	/* Hardware IRQ handlers cannot block. */
-	if (in_irq()) {
+	if (in_irq() || in_serving_softirq()) {
 		local_irq_restore(flags);
 		return;
 	}