diff --git a/net/sched/sch_htb.c b/net/sched/sch_htb.c
index e9f349cb6446..6c4de685a8e4 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_htb.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_htb.c
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ htb_change_class_mode(struct htb_sched *q, struct htb_class *cl, s64 *diff)
  */
 static inline void htb_activate(struct htb_sched *q, struct htb_class *cl)
 {
-	WARN_ON(cl->level || !cl->leaf.q || !cl->leaf.q->q.qlen);
+	WARN_ON(cl->level || !cl->leaf.q);
 
 	if (!cl->prio_activity) {
 		cl->prio_activity = 1 << cl->prio;