diff --git a/include/linux/blk-cgroup.h b/include/linux/blk-cgroup.h
index b7fd08013de2..1e76ceebeb5d 100644
--- a/include/linux/blk-cgroup.h
+++ b/include/linux/blk-cgroup.h
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ static inline struct request_list *blk_get_rl(struct request_queue *q,
 	if (unlikely(!blkg))
 		blkg = __blkg_lookup_create(blkcg, q);
 
-	if (!blkg_tryget(blkg))
+	if (blkg->blkcg == &blkcg_root || !blkg_tryget(blkg))
 		goto rl_use_root;
 
 	rcu_read_unlock();