diff --git a/mm/ksm.c b/mm/ksm.c
index b5854dc14a2e..14dd6a6e8e6d 100644
--- a/mm/ksm.c
+++ b/mm/ksm.c
@@ -3060,10 +3060,9 @@ int __ksm_enter(struct mm_struct *mm)
 
 	slot = &mm_slot->slot;
 
+	spin_lock(&ksm_mmlist_lock);
 	/* Check ksm_run too?  Would need tighter locking */
 	needs_wakeup = list_empty(&ksm_mm_head.slot.mm_node);
-
-	spin_lock(&ksm_mmlist_lock);
 	mm_slot_insert(mm_slots_hash, mm, slot);
 	/*
 	 * When KSM_RUN_MERGE (or KSM_RUN_STOP),