diff --git a/kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c b/kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c
index aa332ace108b..6ffbccb9bcf0 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c
@@ -834,9 +834,10 @@ static bool rb_watermark_hit(struct trace_buffer *buffer, int cpu, int full)
 		pagebusy = cpu_buffer->reader_page == cpu_buffer->commit_page;
 		ret = !pagebusy && full_hit(buffer, cpu, full);
 
-		if (!cpu_buffer->shortest_full ||
-		    cpu_buffer->shortest_full > full)
-			cpu_buffer->shortest_full = full;
+		if (!ret && (!cpu_buffer->shortest_full ||
+			     cpu_buffer->shortest_full > full)) {
+		    cpu_buffer->shortest_full = full;
+		}
 		raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&cpu_buffer->reader_lock, flags);
 	}
 	return ret;