diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/resctrl/rdtgroup.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/resctrl/rdtgroup.c
index 064e9ef44cd6..9d4e73a9b5a9 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/resctrl/rdtgroup.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/resctrl/rdtgroup.c
@@ -3072,7 +3072,8 @@ static int rdtgroup_rmdir(struct kernfs_node *kn)
 	 * If the rdtgroup is a mon group and parent directory
 	 * is a valid "mon_groups" directory, remove the mon group.
 	 */
-	if (rdtgrp->type == RDTCTRL_GROUP && parent_kn == rdtgroup_default.kn) {
+	if (rdtgrp->type == RDTCTRL_GROUP && parent_kn == rdtgroup_default.kn &&
+	    rdtgrp != &rdtgroup_default) {
 		if (rdtgrp->mode == RDT_MODE_PSEUDO_LOCKSETUP ||
 		    rdtgrp->mode == RDT_MODE_PSEUDO_LOCKED) {
 			ret = rdtgroup_ctrl_remove(kn, rdtgrp);