diff --git a/kernel/rcu/rcu.h b/kernel/rcu/rcu.h
index 91e0bf31f6ce13..0bc1313c49e2d6 100644
--- a/kernel/rcu/rcu.h
+++ b/kernel/rcu/rcu.h
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ static inline void rcu_seq_start(unsigned long *sp)
 static inline void rcu_seq_end(unsigned long *sp)
 {
 	smp_mb(); /* Ensure update-side operation before counter increment. */
+	WARN_ON_ONCE(!(*sp & 0x1));
 	WRITE_ONCE(*sp, *sp + 1);
-	WARN_ON_ONCE(*sp & 0x1);
 }
 
 /* Take a snapshot of the update side's sequence number. */