[PATCH v2 sched_ext/for-7.1-fixes] sched_ext: Fix deadlock between scx_root_disable() and concurrent forks
From: Tejun Heo
Date: Sun May 17 2026 - 13:45:25 EST
scx_root_disable() enters SCX_DISABLING before it grabs scx_enable_mutex to
clear __scx_switched_all and scx_switching_all. task_should_scx() short-circuits on DISABLING,
so forks in that window land on fair while next_active_class() still skips
fair - the new tasks stall.
This can deadlock the disable path itself: scx_alloc_and_add_sched() runs
under scx_enable_mutex and creates a helper kthread; if that new kthread is
one of the stalled fair tasks, the mutex holder waits forever and
scx_root_disable() can never make progress. Only sub-sched support exposes
this, since sub-sched enables are the only path where
scx_alloc_and_add_sched() can race the root's disable.
Move the DISABLING check after @scx_switching_all. @scx_switching_all
serves as a proxy for __scx_switched_all, so while it's set, forks keep
going to scx. Once cleared, DISABLING applies normally.
v2: Reword in-source comment and description. (Andrea)
Fixes: 337ec00b1d9c ("sched_ext: Implement cgroup sub-sched enabling and disabling")
Signed-off-by: Tejun Heo <tj@xxxxxxxxxx>
Reviewed-by: Andrea Righi <arighi@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
kernel/sched/ext.c | 22 +++++++++++++++++++++-
1 file changed, 21 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
--- a/kernel/sched/ext.c
+++ b/kernel/sched/ext.c
@@ -5092,10 +5092,30 @@ static const struct kset_uevent_ops scx_
*/
bool task_should_scx(int policy)
{
- if (!scx_enabled() || unlikely(scx_enable_state() == SCX_DISABLING))
+ /* if disabled, nothing should be on it */
+ if (!scx_enabled())
return false;
+
+ /* scx is taking over all SCHED_OTHER and SCHED_EXT tasks */
if (READ_ONCE(scx_switching_all))
return true;
+
+ /*
+ * scx is tearing down - keep new SCHED_EXT tasks out.
+ *
+ * Must come after scx_switching_all test, which serves as a proxy
+ * for __scx_switched_all. While __scx_switched_all is set, we must
+ * return true via the branch above: a fork routed to fair would
+ * stall because next_active_class() skips fair.
+ *
+ * This can develop into a deadlock - scx holds scx_enable_mutex across
+ * kthread_create() in scx_alloc_and_add_sched(); if the new kthread is
+ * the stalled task, the disable path can never grab the mutex to clear
+ * scx_switching_all.
+ */
+ if (unlikely(scx_enable_state() == SCX_DISABLING))
+ return false;
+
return policy == SCHED_EXT;
}