diff --git a/kernel/workqueue.c b/kernel/workqueue.c
index 51dc508ac35b..76559b63ee1f 100644
--- a/kernel/workqueue.c
+++ b/kernel/workqueue.c
@@ -4710,7 +4710,7 @@ static int init_rescuer(struct workqueue_struct *wq)
  */
 static void wq_adjust_max_active(struct workqueue_struct *wq)
 {
-	struct pool_workqueue *pwq;
+	bool activated;
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&wq->mutex);
 
@@ -4730,19 +4730,26 @@ static void wq_adjust_max_active(struct workqueue_struct *wq)
 	 */
 	WRITE_ONCE(wq->max_active, wq->saved_max_active);
 
-	for_each_pwq(pwq, wq) {
-		unsigned long flags;
+	/*
+	 * Round-robin through pwq's activating the first inactive work item
+	 * until max_active is filled.
+	 */
+	do {
+		struct pool_workqueue *pwq;
 
-		/* this function can be called during early boot w/ irq disabled */
-		raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&pwq->pool->lock, flags);
+		activated = false;
+		for_each_pwq(pwq, wq) {
+			unsigned long flags;
 
-		while (pwq_activate_first_inactive(pwq))
-			;
-
-		kick_pool(pwq->pool);
-
-		raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&pwq->pool->lock, flags);
-	}
+			/* can be called during early boot w/ irq disabled */
+			raw_spin_lock_irqsave(&pwq->pool->lock, flags);
+			if (pwq_activate_first_inactive(pwq)) {
+				activated = true;
+				kick_pool(pwq->pool);
+			}
+			raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore(&pwq->pool->lock, flags);
+		}
+	} while (activated);
 }
 
 __printf(1, 4)