diff --git a/fs/eventpoll.c b/fs/eventpoll.c
index 8c59664..d6ba0e5 100644
--- a/fs/eventpoll.c
+++ b/fs/eventpoll.c
@@ -1171,6 +1171,10 @@ static inline bool chain_epi_lockless(struct epitem *epi)
 {
 	struct eventpoll *ep = epi->ep;
 
+	/* Fast preliminary check */
+	if (epi->next != EP_UNACTIVE_PTR)
+		return false;
+
 	/* Check that the same epi has not been just chained from another CPU */
 	if (cmpxchg(&epi->next, EP_UNACTIVE_PTR, NULL) != EP_UNACTIVE_PTR)
 		return false;
@@ -1237,16 +1241,12 @@ static int ep_poll_callback(wait_queue_entry_t *wait, unsigned mode, int sync, v
 	 * chained in ep->ovflist and requeued later on.
 	 */
 	if (READ_ONCE(ep->ovflist) != EP_UNACTIVE_PTR) {
-		if (epi->next == EP_UNACTIVE_PTR &&
-		    chain_epi_lockless(epi))
+		if (chain_epi_lockless(epi))
 			ep_pm_stay_awake_rcu(epi);
-		goto out_unlock;
-	}
-
-	/* If this file is already in the ready list we exit soon */
-	if (!ep_is_linked(epi) &&
-	    list_add_tail_lockless(&epi->rdllink, &ep->rdllist)) {
-		ep_pm_stay_awake_rcu(epi);
+	} else if (!ep_is_linked(epi)) {
+		/* In the usual case, add event to ready list. */
+		if (list_add_tail_lockless(&epi->rdllink, &ep->rdllist))
+			ep_pm_stay_awake_rcu(epi);
 	}
 
 	/*