diff --git a/mm/vmscan.c b/mm/vmscan.c
index e336577c4454..c88eb223ade2 100644
--- a/mm/vmscan.c
+++ b/mm/vmscan.c
@@ -398,14 +398,7 @@ unsigned long zone_reclaimable_pages(struct zone *zone)
 	if (can_reclaim_anon_pages(NULL, zone_to_nid(zone), NULL))
 		nr += zone_page_state_snapshot(zone, NR_ZONE_INACTIVE_ANON) +
 			zone_page_state_snapshot(zone, NR_ZONE_ACTIVE_ANON);
-	/*
-	 * If there are no reclaimable file-backed or anonymous pages,
-	 * ensure zones with sufficient free pages are not skipped.
-	 * This prevents zones like DMA32 from being ignored in reclaim
-	 * scenarios where they can still help alleviate memory pressure.
-	 */
-	if (nr == 0)
-		nr = zone_page_state_snapshot(zone, NR_FREE_PAGES);
+
 	return nr;
 }
 
@@ -6495,7 +6488,7 @@ static bool allow_direct_reclaim(pg_data_t *pgdat)
 		return true;
 
 	for_each_managed_zone_pgdat(zone, pgdat, i, ZONE_NORMAL) {
-		if (!zone_reclaimable_pages(zone))
+		if (!zone_reclaimable_pages(zone) && zone_page_state_snapshot(zone, NR_FREE_PAGES))
 			continue;
 
 		pfmemalloc_reserve += min_wmark_pages(zone);