diff --git a/kernel/sched/ext/sub.c b/kernel/sched/ext/sub.c
index 5fe2f79064dc..17ed0d28f383 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/ext/sub.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/ext/sub.c
@@ -21,6 +21,33 @@
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_EXT_SUB_SCHED
 
+/**
+ * scx_skip_subtree_pre - Skip @pos's subtree in a pre-order walk
+ * @pos: current position
+ * @root: walk root
+ *
+ * In a walk started by scx_next_descendant_pre(), continue past @pos's subtree:
+ * return @pos's next sibling, or the closest ancestor's next sibling, or NULL
+ * if @pos's subtree is the last under @root. Same locking rules.
+ */
+struct scx_sched *scx_skip_subtree_pre(struct scx_sched *pos, struct scx_sched *root)
+{
+	struct scx_sched *next;
+
+	lockdep_assert(lockdep_is_held(&scx_enable_mutex) ||
+		       lockdep_is_held(&scx_sched_lock) ||
+		       rcu_read_lock_any_held());
+
+	while (pos != root) {
+		next = list_next_or_null_rcu(&scx_parent(pos)->children, &pos->sibling,
+					     struct scx_sched, sibling);
+		if (next)
+			return next;
+		pos = scx_parent(pos);
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 /**
  * scx_next_descendant_pre - find the next descendant for pre-order walk
  * @pos: the current position (%NULL to initiate traversal)
@@ -48,15 +75,7 @@ struct scx_sched *scx_next_descendant_pre(struct scx_sched *pos, struct scx_sche
 		return next;
 
 	/* no child, visit my or the closest ancestor's next sibling */
-	while (pos != root) {
-		next = list_next_or_null_rcu(&scx_parent(pos)->children, &pos->sibling,
-					     struct scx_sched, sibling);
-		if (next)
-			return next;
-		pos = scx_parent(pos);
-	}
-
-	return NULL;
+	return scx_skip_subtree_pre(pos, root);
 }
 
 static struct scx_sched *scx_find_sub_sched(u64 cgroup_id)
diff --git a/kernel/sched/ext/sub.h b/kernel/sched/ext/sub.h
index 45f3952b5d81..2688087a0654 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/ext/sub.h
+++ b/kernel/sched/ext/sub.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_EXT_SUB_SCHED
 
+struct scx_sched *scx_skip_subtree_pre(struct scx_sched *pos, struct scx_sched *root);
 struct scx_sched *scx_next_descendant_pre(struct scx_sched *pos, struct scx_sched *root);
 void scx_set_task_sched(struct task_struct *p, struct scx_sched *sch);
 struct cgroup *sch_cgroup(struct scx_sched *sch);
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ static inline const char *sch_cgrp_path(struct scx_sched *sch)
 #else	/* CONFIG_EXT_SUB_SCHED */
 
 static inline struct scx_sched *scx_next_descendant_pre(struct scx_sched *pos, struct scx_sched *root) { return pos ? NULL : root; }
+static inline struct scx_sched *scx_skip_subtree_pre(struct scx_sched *pos, struct scx_sched *root) { return NULL; }
 static inline void scx_set_task_sched(struct task_struct *p, struct scx_sched *sch) {}
 static inline struct cgroup *sch_cgroup(struct scx_sched *sch) { return NULL; }
 static inline const char *sch_cgrp_path(struct scx_sched *sch) { return "/"; }