diff --git a/block/blk-iocost.c b/block/blk-iocost.c
index 769b64394298..871d9529ea35 100644
--- a/block/blk-iocost.c
+++ b/block/blk-iocost.c
@@ -2322,7 +2322,17 @@ static void ioc_timer_fn(struct timer_list *timer)
 				iocg->hweight_donating = hwa;
 				iocg->hweight_after_donation = new_hwi;
 				list_add(&iocg->surplus_list, &surpluses);
-			} else {
+			} else if (!iocg->abs_vdebt) {
+				/*
+				 * @iocg doesn't have enough to donate. Reset
+				 * its inuse to active.
+				 *
+				 * Don't reset debtors as their inuse's are
+				 * owned by debt handling. This shouldn't affect
+				 * donation calculuation in any meaningful way
+				 * as @iocg doesn't have a meaningful amount of
+				 * share anyway.
+				 */
 				TRACE_IOCG_PATH(inuse_shortage, iocg, &now,
 						iocg->inuse, iocg->active,
 						iocg->hweight_inuse, new_hwi);