diff --git a/kernel/sched/debug.c b/kernel/sched/debug.c
index ed9254da5116..41e389569d06 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/debug.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/debug.c
@@ -348,6 +348,8 @@ static ssize_t sched_fair_server_write(struct file *filp, const char __user *ubu
 		return err;
 
 	scoped_guard (rq_lock_irqsave, rq) {
+		bool is_active;
+
 		runtime  = rq->fair_server.dl_runtime;
 		period = rq->fair_server.dl_period;
 
@@ -370,8 +372,11 @@ static ssize_t sched_fair_server_write(struct file *filp, const char __user *ubu
 			return  -EINVAL;
 		}
 
-		update_rq_clock(rq);
-		dl_server_stop(&rq->fair_server);
+		is_active = dl_server_active(&rq->fair_server);
+		if (is_active) {
+			update_rq_clock(rq);
+			dl_server_stop(&rq->fair_server);
+		}
 
 		retval = dl_server_apply_params(&rq->fair_server, runtime, period, 0);
 
@@ -379,7 +384,7 @@ static ssize_t sched_fair_server_write(struct file *filp, const char __user *ubu
 			printk_deferred("Fair server disabled in CPU %d, system may crash due to starvation.\n",
 					cpu_of(rq));
 
-		if (rq->cfs.h_nr_queued)
+		if (is_active && runtime)
 			dl_server_start(&rq->fair_server);
 
 		if (retval < 0)