diff --git a/include/trace/events/rcu.h b/include/trace/events/rcu.h
index 7d3650cc9d30..5ab1df0a2801 100644
--- a/include/trace/events/rcu.h
+++ b/include/trace/events/rcu.h
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ TRACE_EVENT(rcu_grace_period,
  *
  * "Startleaf": Request a grace period based on leaf-node data.
  * "Prestarted": Someone beat us to the request
- * "Startedleaf": Leaf-node start proved sufficient.
- * "Startedleafroot": Leaf-node start proved sufficient after checking root.
+ * "Startedleaf": Leaf node marked for future GP.
+ * "Startedleafroot": All nodes from leaf to root marked for future GP.
  * "Startedroot": Requested a nocb grace period based on root-node data.
  * "NoGPkthread": The RCU grace-period kthread has not yet started.
  * "StartWait": Start waiting for the requested grace period.
diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree.c b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
index 5643c135fb06..24a79e85b81f 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree.c
@@ -1590,6 +1590,15 @@ static bool rcu_start_this_gp(struct rcu_node *rnp, struct rcu_data *rdp,
 			goto unlock_out;
 		}
 		rnp_root->gp_seq_needed = c;
+		if (rcu_seq_state(rcu_seq_current(&rnp->gp_seq))) {
+			/*
+			 * We just marked the leaf, and a grace period
+			 * is in progress, which means that rcu_gp_cleanup()
+			 * will see the marking.  Bail to reduce contention.
+			 */
+			trace_rcu_this_gp(rnp, rdp, c, TPS("Startedleaf"));
+			goto unlock_out;
+		}
 		if (rnp_root != rnp && rnp_root->parent != NULL)
 			raw_spin_unlock_rcu_node(rnp_root);
 		if (!rnp_root->parent)