diff --git a/kernel/sched_rt.c b/kernel/sched_rt.c
index 9b8d5dce946e..10d018212bab 100644
--- a/kernel/sched_rt.c
+++ b/kernel/sched_rt.c
@@ -1239,6 +1239,10 @@ static int find_lowest_rq(struct task_struct *task)
 	int this_cpu = smp_processor_id();
 	int cpu      = task_cpu(task);
 
+	/* Make sure the mask is initialized first */
+	if (unlikely(!lowest_mask))
+		return -1;
+
 	if (task->rt.nr_cpus_allowed == 1)
 		return -1; /* No other targets possible */