diff --git a/kernel/sched/ext.c b/kernel/sched/ext.c
index 68c67113204f..f8500ce37b22 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/ext.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/ext.c
@@ -5023,6 +5023,15 @@ static u32 bypass_lb_cpu(struct scx_sched *sch, s32 donor,
 		if (cpumask_empty(donee_mask))
 			break;
 
+		/*
+		 * If an earlier pass placed @p on @donor_dsq from a different
+		 * CPU and the donee hasn't consumed it yet, @p is still on the
+		 * previous CPU and task_rq(@p) != @donor_rq. @p can't be moved
+		 * without its rq locked. Skip.
+		 */
+		if (task_rq(p) != donor_rq)
+			continue;
+
 		donee = cpumask_any_and_distribute(donee_mask, p->cpus_ptr);
 		if (donee >= nr_cpu_ids)
 			continue;