diff --git a/net/sched/sch_htb.c b/net/sched/sch_htb.c
index 99bcec8dd04c..035788c5b7f8 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_htb.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_htb.c
@@ -976,8 +976,9 @@ static struct sk_buff *htb_dequeue(struct Qdisc *sch)
 
 		if (q->now >= q->near_ev_cache[level]) {
 			event = htb_do_events(q, level);
-			q->near_ev_cache[level] = event ? event :
-							  PSCHED_TICKS_PER_SEC;
+			if (!event)
+				event = q->now + PSCHED_TICKS_PER_SEC;
+			q->near_ev_cache[level] = event;
 		} else
 			event = q->near_ev_cache[level];