diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp_output.c b/net/ipv4/tcp_output.c
index 536d40929ba6..ec335fabd5cc 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp_output.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp_output.c
@@ -874,11 +874,13 @@ static int tcp_transmit_skb(struct sock *sk, struct sk_buff *skb, int clone_it,
 							   &md5);
 	tcp_header_size = tcp_options_size + sizeof(struct tcphdr);
 
-	if (tcp_packets_in_flight(tp) == 0) {
+	if (tcp_packets_in_flight(tp) == 0)
 		tcp_ca_event(sk, CA_EVENT_TX_START);
-		skb->ooo_okay = 1;
-	} else
-		skb->ooo_okay = 0;
+
+	/* if no packet is in qdisc/device queue, then allow XPS to select
+	 * another queue.
+	 */
+	skb->ooo_okay = sk_wmem_alloc_get(sk) == 0;
 
 	skb_push(skb, tcp_header_size);
 	skb_reset_transport_header(skb);