diff --git a/kernel/locking/rwsem.c b/kernel/locking/rwsem.c
index d3ce7c6c42a6..571938887cc8 100644
--- a/kernel/locking/rwsem.c
+++ b/kernel/locking/rwsem.c
@@ -1073,8 +1073,10 @@ rwsem_down_read_slowpath(struct rw_semaphore *sem, int state)
 	/* wait to be given the lock */
 	while (true) {
 		set_current_state(state);
-		if (!waiter.task)
+		if (!smp_load_acquire(&waiter.task)) {
+			/* Orders against rwsem_mark_wake()'s smp_store_release() */
 			break;
+		}
 		if (signal_pending_state(state, current)) {
 			raw_spin_lock_irq(&sem->wait_lock);
 			if (waiter.task)