diff --git a/mm/vmscan.c b/mm/vmscan.c
index 3f56c8deb3c0..32c661d66a45 100644
--- a/mm/vmscan.c
+++ b/mm/vmscan.c
@@ -1915,6 +1915,24 @@ static void get_scan_count(struct lruvec *lruvec, struct scan_control *sc,
 	file  = get_lru_size(lruvec, LRU_ACTIVE_FILE) +
 		get_lru_size(lruvec, LRU_INACTIVE_FILE);
 
+	/*
+	 * Prevent the reclaimer from falling into the cache trap: as
+	 * cache pages start out inactive, every cache fault will tip
+	 * the scan balance towards the file LRU.  And as the file LRU
+	 * shrinks, so does the window for rotation from references.
+	 * This means we have a runaway feedback loop where a tiny
+	 * thrashing file LRU becomes infinitely more attractive than
+	 * anon pages.  Try to detect this based on file LRU size.
+	 */
+	if (global_reclaim(sc)) {
+		unsigned long free = zone_page_state(zone, NR_FREE_PAGES);
+
+		if (unlikely(file + free <= high_wmark_pages(zone))) {
+			scan_balance = SCAN_ANON;
+			goto out;
+		}
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * There is enough inactive page cache, do not reclaim
 	 * anything from the anonymous working set right now.