diff --git a/mm/vmstat.c b/mm/vmstat.c
index dd0a13013cb4..233045057a30 100644
--- a/mm/vmstat.c
+++ b/mm/vmstat.c
@@ -1407,17 +1407,7 @@ static void vmstat_update(struct work_struct *w)
 		 * Defer the checking for differentials to the
 		 * shepherd thread on a different processor.
 		 */
-		int r;
-		/*
-		 * Shepherd work thread does not race since it never
-		 * changes the bit if its zero but the cpu
-		 * online / off line code may race if
-		 * worker threads are still allowed during
-		 * shutdown / startup.
-		 */
-		r = cpumask_test_and_set_cpu(smp_processor_id(),
-			cpu_stat_off);
-		VM_BUG_ON(r);
+		cpumask_set_cpu(smp_processor_id(), cpu_stat_off);
 	}
 }