diff --git a/kernel/rcutree.c b/kernel/rcutree.c
index 71df6f9f5ce6..0e522504ae37 100644
--- a/kernel/rcutree.c
+++ b/kernel/rcutree.c
@@ -1319,7 +1319,8 @@ static int rcu_gp_init(struct rcu_state *rsp)
 					    rnp->grphi, rnp->qsmask);
 		raw_spin_unlock_irq(&rnp->lock);
 #ifdef CONFIG_PROVE_RCU_DELAY
-		if ((random32() % (rcu_num_nodes * 8)) == 0)
+		if ((random32() % (rcu_num_nodes * 8)) == 0 &&
+		    system_state == SYSTEM_RUNNING)
 			schedule_timeout_uninterruptible(2);
 #endif /* #ifdef CONFIG_PROVE_RCU_DELAY */
 		cond_resched();