diff --git a/kernel/sched/fair.c b/kernel/sched/fair.c
index af120e88720f..9afe0c69a3c1 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/fair.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/fair.c
@@ -12441,6 +12441,22 @@ static void nohz_balancer_kick(struct rq *rq)
 	 */
 	nohz_balance_exit_idle(rq);
 
+	if (READ_ONCE(nohz.has_blocked_load) &&
+	    time_after(now, READ_ONCE(nohz.next_blocked)))
+		flags = NOHZ_STATS_KICK;
+
+	/*
+	 * Most of the time system is not 100% busy. i.e nohz.nr_cpus > 0
+	 * Skip the read if time is not due.
+	 *
+	 * If none are in tickless mode, there maybe a narrow window
+	 * (28 jiffies, HZ=1000) where flags maybe set and kick_ilb called.
+	 * But idle load balancing is not done as find_new_ilb fails.
+	 * That's very rare. So read nohz.nr_cpus only if time is due.
+	 */
+	if (time_before(now, nohz.next_balance))
+		goto out;
+
 	/*
 	 * None are in tickless mode and hence no need for NOHZ idle load
 	 * balancing:
@@ -12448,13 +12464,6 @@ static void nohz_balancer_kick(struct rq *rq)
 	if (likely(!atomic_read(&nohz.nr_cpus)))
 		return;
 
-	if (READ_ONCE(nohz.has_blocked_load) &&
-	    time_after(now, READ_ONCE(nohz.next_blocked)))
-		flags = NOHZ_STATS_KICK;
-
-	if (time_before(now, nohz.next_balance))
-		goto out;
-
 	if (rq->nr_running >= 2) {
 		flags = NOHZ_STATS_KICK | NOHZ_BALANCE_KICK;
 		goto out;