diff --git a/mm/vmscan.c b/mm/vmscan.c
index 811141e166e0..fed30222e4ab 100644
--- a/mm/vmscan.c
+++ b/mm/vmscan.c
@@ -726,6 +726,12 @@ static enum page_references page_check_references(struct page *page,
 		if (referenced_page || referenced_ptes > 1)
 			return PAGEREF_ACTIVATE;
 
+		/*
+		 * Activate file-backed executable pages after first usage.
+		 */
+		if (vm_flags & VM_EXEC)
+			return PAGEREF_ACTIVATE;
+
 		return PAGEREF_KEEP;
 	}