diff --git a/kernel/cpuset.c b/kernel/cpuset.c
index 9fe58c4..0b1712d 100644
--- a/kernel/cpuset.c
+++ b/kernel/cpuset.c
@@ -123,6 +123,19 @@
 			    struct cpuset, css);
 }
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_NUMA
+static inline bool task_has_mempolicy(struct task_struct *task)
+{
+	return task->mempolicy;
+}
+#else
+static inline bool task_has_mempolicy(struct task_struct *task)
+{
+	return false;
+}
+#endif
+
+
 /* bits in struct cpuset flags field */
 typedef enum {
 	CS_CPU_EXCLUSIVE,
@@ -949,7 +962,7 @@
 static void cpuset_change_task_nodemask(struct task_struct *tsk,
 					nodemask_t *newmems)
 {
-	bool masks_disjoint = !nodes_intersects(*newmems, tsk->mems_allowed);
+	bool need_loop;
 
 repeat:
 	/*
@@ -962,6 +975,14 @@
 		return;
 
 	task_lock(tsk);
+	/*
+	 * Determine if a loop is necessary if another thread is doing
+	 * get_mems_allowed().  If at least one node remains unchanged and
+	 * tsk does not have a mempolicy, then an empty nodemask will not be
+	 * possible when mems_allowed is larger than a word.
+	 */
+	need_loop = task_has_mempolicy(tsk) ||
+			!nodes_intersects(*newmems, tsk->mems_allowed);
 	nodes_or(tsk->mems_allowed, tsk->mems_allowed, *newmems);
 	mpol_rebind_task(tsk, newmems, MPOL_REBIND_STEP1);
 
@@ -981,11 +1002,9 @@
 
 	/*
 	 * Allocation of memory is very fast, we needn't sleep when waiting
-	 * for the read-side.  No wait is necessary, however, if at least one
-	 * node remains unchanged.
+	 * for the read-side.
 	 */
-	while (masks_disjoint &&
-			ACCESS_ONCE(tsk->mems_allowed_change_disable)) {
+	while (need_loop && ACCESS_ONCE(tsk->mems_allowed_change_disable)) {
 		task_unlock(tsk);
 		if (!task_curr(tsk))
 			yield();