diff --git a/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c b/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c
index afd5045263be..c9fb375701f8 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c
+++ b/kernel/rcu/rcutorture.c
@@ -3076,10 +3076,10 @@ rcu_torture_stats_print(void)
 		if (cur_ops->get_gp_data)
 			cur_ops->get_gp_data(&flags, &gp_seq);
 		wtp = READ_ONCE(writer_task);
-		pr_alert("??? Writer stall state %s(%d) g%lu f%#x ->state %#x cpu %d\n",
+		pr_alert("??? Writer stall state %s(%d) g%lu f%#x ->state %c cpu %d\n",
 			 rcu_torture_writer_state_getname(),
 			 rcu_torture_writer_state, gp_seq, flags,
-			 wtp == NULL ? ~0U : wtp->__state,
+			 wtp == NULL ? '?' : task_state_to_char(wtp),
 			 wtp == NULL ? -1 : (int)task_cpu(wtp));
 		if (!splatted && wtp) {
 			sched_show_task(wtp);