diff --git a/kernel/sched/fair.c b/kernel/sched/fair.c
index 84d5caf6230f..58231999d929 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/fair.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/fair.c
@@ -8528,21 +8528,21 @@ done: __maybe_unused;
 	return p;
 
 idle:
-	if (!rf)
-		return NULL;
+	if (rf) {
+		new_tasks = sched_balance_newidle(rq, rf);
 
-	new_tasks = sched_balance_newidle(rq, rf);
+		/*
+		 * Because sched_balance_newidle() releases (and re-acquires)
+		 * rq->lock, it is possible for any higher priority task to
+		 * appear. In that case we must re-start the pick_next_entity()
+		 * loop.
+		 */
+		if (new_tasks < 0)
+			return RETRY_TASK;
 
-	/*
-	 * Because sched_balance_newidle() releases (and re-acquires) rq->lock, it is
-	 * possible for any higher priority task to appear. In that case we
-	 * must re-start the pick_next_entity() loop.
-	 */
-	if (new_tasks < 0)
-		return RETRY_TASK;
-
-	if (new_tasks > 0)
-		goto again;
+		if (new_tasks > 0)
+			goto again;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * rq is about to be idle, check if we need to update the