diff --git a/kernel/rcu/tree_exp.h b/kernel/rcu/tree_exp.h
index 12f1a18d7b6d..a96d17206d87 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/tree_exp.h
+++ b/kernel/rcu/tree_exp.h
@@ -506,7 +506,10 @@ static void synchronize_rcu_expedited_wait(void)
 				if (rdp->rcu_forced_tick_exp)
 					continue;
 				rdp->rcu_forced_tick_exp = true;
-				tick_dep_set_cpu(cpu, TICK_DEP_BIT_RCU_EXP);
+				preempt_disable();
+				if (cpu_online(cpu))
+					tick_dep_set_cpu(cpu, TICK_DEP_BIT_RCU_EXP);
+				preempt_enable();
 			}
 		}
 		j = READ_ONCE(jiffies_till_first_fqs);