diff --git a/kernel/sched/cpufreq_schedutil.c b/kernel/sched/cpufreq_schedutil.c
index 23ef19070137..e13df951aca7 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/cpufreq_schedutil.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/cpufreq_schedutil.c
@@ -305,7 +305,8 @@ static void sugov_update_single(struct update_util_data *hook, u64 time,
 	 * Do not reduce the frequency if the CPU has not been idle
 	 * recently, as the reduction is likely to be premature then.
 	 */
-	if (busy && next_f < sg_policy->next_freq) {
+	if (busy && next_f < sg_policy->next_freq &&
+	    sg_policy->next_freq != UINT_MAX) {
 		next_f = sg_policy->next_freq;
 
 		/* Reset cached freq as next_freq has changed */