diff --git a/kernel/rcutiny_plugin.h b/kernel/rcutiny_plugin.h
index dfa97cbb3910..9cb1ae4aabdd 100644
--- a/kernel/rcutiny_plugin.h
+++ b/kernel/rcutiny_plugin.h
@@ -312,8 +312,8 @@ static int rcu_boost(void)
 	rt_mutex_lock(&mtx);
 	rt_mutex_unlock(&mtx);  /* Keep lockdep happy. */
 
-	return rcu_preempt_ctrlblk.boost_tasks != NULL ||
-	       rcu_preempt_ctrlblk.exp_tasks != NULL;
+	return ACCESS_ONCE(rcu_preempt_ctrlblk.boost_tasks) != NULL ||
+	       ACCESS_ONCE(rcu_preempt_ctrlblk.exp_tasks) != NULL;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/kernel/rcutree_plugin.h b/kernel/rcutree_plugin.h
index f55f10ba01f5..8bb35d73e1f9 100644
--- a/kernel/rcutree_plugin.h
+++ b/kernel/rcutree_plugin.h
@@ -1232,7 +1232,8 @@ static int rcu_boost(struct rcu_node *rnp)
 	rt_mutex_lock(&mtx);  /* Side effect: boosts task t's priority. */
 	rt_mutex_unlock(&mtx);  /* Keep lockdep happy. */
 
-	return rnp->exp_tasks != NULL || rnp->boost_tasks != NULL;
+	return ACCESS_ONCE(rnp->exp_tasks) != NULL ||
+	       ACCESS_ONCE(rnp->boost_tasks) != NULL;
 }
 
 /*