diff --git a/mm/page_alloc.c b/mm/page_alloc.c
index bbd0423f..e7664b9 100644
--- a/mm/page_alloc.c
+++ b/mm/page_alloc.c
@@ -1971,7 +1971,12 @@
 	alloc_flags |= (__force int) (gfp_mask & __GFP_HIGH);
 
 	if (!wait) {
-		alloc_flags |= ALLOC_HARDER;
+		/*
+		 * Not worth trying to allocate harder for
+		 * __GFP_NOMEMALLOC even if it can't schedule.
+		 */
+		if  (!(gfp_mask & __GFP_NOMEMALLOC))
+			alloc_flags |= ALLOC_HARDER;
 		/*
 		 * Ignore cpuset if GFP_ATOMIC (!wait) rather than fail alloc.
 		 * See also cpuset_zone_allowed() comment in kernel/cpuset.c.