diff --git a/mm/vmscan.c b/mm/vmscan.c
index eefd9c908b659..9f3cc52fc3dab 100644
--- a/mm/vmscan.c
+++ b/mm/vmscan.c
@@ -4925,8 +4925,8 @@ static void lru_gen_shrink_node(struct pglist_data *pgdat, struct scan_control *
 
 	blk_finish_plug(&plug);
 done:
-	/* kswapd should never fail */
-	pgdat->kswapd_failures = 0;
+	if (sc->nr_reclaimed > reclaimed)
+		pgdat->kswapd_failures = 0;
 }
 
 /******************************************************************************