diff --git a/mm/vmscan.c b/mm/vmscan.c
index 786af103e304..ae379855173f 100644
--- a/mm/vmscan.c
+++ b/mm/vmscan.c
@@ -2965,6 +2965,13 @@ static unsigned long balance_pgdat(pg_data_t *pgdat, int order,
 				pgdat_needs_compaction = false;
 		}
 
+		/*
+		 * If we're getting trouble reclaiming, start doing writepage
+		 * even in laptop mode.
+		 */
+		if (sc.priority < DEF_PRIORITY - 2)
+			sc.may_writepage = 1;
+
 		/*
 		 * Now scan the zone in the dma->highmem direction, stopping
 		 * at the last zone which needs scanning.
@@ -3036,13 +3043,6 @@ static unsigned long balance_pgdat(pg_data_t *pgdat, int order,
 					raise_priority = false;
 			}
 
-			/*
-			 * If we're getting trouble reclaiming, start doing
-			 * writepage even in laptop mode.
-			 */
-			if (sc.priority < DEF_PRIORITY - 2)
-				sc.may_writepage = 1;
-
 			if (!zone_reclaimable(zone)) {
 				if (end_zone && end_zone == i)
 					end_zone--;