diff --git a/kernel/sched/core.c b/kernel/sched/core.c
index 3de62649869b..88c2c0ee5a52 100644
--- a/kernel/sched/core.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/core.c
@@ -5955,8 +5955,8 @@ struct sched_domain *build_sched_domain(struct sched_domain_topology_level *tl,
 		sd->level = child->level + 1;
 		sched_domain_level_max = max(sched_domain_level_max, sd->level);
 		child->parent = sd;
+		sd->child = child;
 	}
-	sd->child = child;
 	set_domain_attribute(sd, attr);
 
 	return sd;