diff --git a/kernel/locking/rwsem.c b/kernel/locking/rwsem.c
index 324fc370b6a68..84d5b649b95fe 100644
--- a/kernel/locking/rwsem.c
+++ b/kernel/locking/rwsem.c
@@ -624,18 +624,16 @@ static inline bool rwsem_try_write_lock(struct rw_semaphore *sem,
 			 */
 			if (first->handoff_set && (waiter != first))
 				return false;
-
-			/*
-			 * First waiter can inherit a previously set handoff
-			 * bit and spin on rwsem if lock acquisition fails.
-			 */
-			if (waiter == first)
-				waiter->handoff_set = true;
 		}
 
 		new = count;
 
 		if (count & RWSEM_LOCK_MASK) {
+			/*
+			 * A waiter (first or not) can set the handoff bit
+			 * if it is an RT task or wait in the wait queue
+			 * for too long.
+			 */
 			if (has_handoff || (!rt_task(waiter->task) &&
 					    !time_after(jiffies, waiter->timeout)))
 				return false;
@@ -651,11 +649,12 @@ static inline bool rwsem_try_write_lock(struct rw_semaphore *sem,
 	} while (!atomic_long_try_cmpxchg_acquire(&sem->count, &count, new));
 
 	/*
-	 * We have either acquired the lock with handoff bit cleared or
-	 * set the handoff bit.
+	 * We have either acquired the lock with handoff bit cleared or set
+	 * the handoff bit. Only the first waiter can have its handoff_set
+	 * set here to enable optimistic spinning in slowpath loop.
 	 */
 	if (new & RWSEM_FLAG_HANDOFF) {
-		waiter->handoff_set = true;
+		first->handoff_set = true;
 		lockevent_inc(rwsem_wlock_handoff);
 		return false;
 	}