diff --git a/mm/vmscan.c b/mm/vmscan.c
index c35b82a3069d..ac386422bc91 100644
--- a/mm/vmscan.c
+++ b/mm/vmscan.c
@@ -4461,8 +4461,8 @@ bool lru_gen_look_around(struct page_vma_mapped_walk *pvmw, unsigned int nr)
 	if (spin_is_contended(pvmw->ptl))
 		return true;
 
-	/* exclude special VMAs containing anon pages from COW */
-	if (vma->vm_flags & VM_SPECIAL)
+	/* exclude non-mm-backed VMAs containing anon pages from COW */
+	if (!vma_is_mm_backed(vma))
 		return true;
 
 	/* avoid taking the LRU lock under the PTL when possible */