diff --git a/kernel/sched/fair.c b/kernel/sched/fair.c
index 035132014817..fa9fff0f9620 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/fair.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/fair.c
@@ -11121,12 +11121,16 @@ static int should_we_balance(struct lb_env *env)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		/* Are we the first idle CPU? */
+		/*
+		 * Are we the first idle core in a non-SMT domain or higher,
+		 * or the first idle CPU in a SMT domain?
+		 */
 		return cpu == env->dst_cpu;
 	}
 
-	if (idle_smt == env->dst_cpu)
-		return true;
+	/* Are we the first idle CPU with busy siblings? */
+	if (idle_smt != -1)
+		return idle_smt == env->dst_cpu;
 
 	/* Are we the first CPU of this group ? */
 	return group_balance_cpu(sg) == env->dst_cpu;