struct sched_domain *sd;
        /* Earliest time when we have to do rebalance again */
        unsigned long next_balance = jiffies + 60*HZ;
+       int update_next_balance = 0;
 
        for_each_domain(cpu, sd) {
                if (!(sd->flags & SD_LOAD_BALANCE))
                if (sd->flags & SD_SERIALIZE)
                        spin_unlock(&balancing);
 out:
-               if (time_after(next_balance, sd->last_balance + interval))
+               if (time_after(next_balance, sd->last_balance + interval)) {
                        next_balance = sd->last_balance + interval;
+                       update_next_balance = 1;
+               }
 
                /*
                 * Stop the load balance at this level. There is another
                if (!balance)
                        break;
        }
-       rq->next_balance = next_balance;
+
+       /*
+        * next_balance will be updated only when there is a need.
+        * When the cpu is attached to null domain for ex, it will not be
+        * updated.
+        */
+       if (likely(update_next_balance))
+               rq->next_balance = next_balance;
 }
 
 /*