diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tiny.c b/kernel/rcu/tiny.c
index a501b4ab9b1c..591af0cb7b9f 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tiny.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tiny.c
@@ -137,6 +137,11 @@ static void __rcu_process_callbacks(struct rcu_ctrlblk *rcp)
 
 	/* Move the ready-to-invoke callbacks to a local list. */
 	local_irq_save(flags);
+	if (rcp->donetail == &rcp->rcucblist) {
+		/* No callbacks ready, so just leave. */
+		local_irq_restore(flags);
+		return;
+	}
 	RCU_TRACE(trace_rcu_batch_start(rcp->name, 0, rcp->qlen, -1));
 	list = rcp->rcucblist;
 	rcp->rcucblist = *rcp->donetail;