diff --git a/kernel/sched/fair.c b/kernel/sched/fair.c
index ff69f245b939..f6a05d9b5443 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/fair.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/fair.c
@@ -4936,8 +4936,12 @@ void unthrottle_cfs_rq(struct cfs_rq *cfs_rq)
 	/* update hierarchical throttle state */
 	walk_tg_tree_from(cfs_rq->tg, tg_nop, tg_unthrottle_up, (void *)rq);
 
-	if (!cfs_rq->load.weight)
+	/* Nothing to run but something to decay (on_list)? Complete the branch */
+	if (!cfs_rq->load.weight) {
+		if (cfs_rq->on_list)
+			goto unthrottle_throttle;
 		return;
+	}
 
 	task_delta = cfs_rq->h_nr_running;
 	idle_task_delta = cfs_rq->idle_h_nr_running;