diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index 8bfa8313ef62..0c6c270d9f7d 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -6862,9 +6862,9 @@ static void skb_defer_free_flush(void)
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_NET_RX_BUSY_POLL)
 
-static void __busy_poll_stop(struct napi_struct *napi, bool skip_schedule)
+static void __busy_poll_stop(struct napi_struct *napi, unsigned long timeout)
 {
-	if (!skip_schedule) {
+	if (!timeout) {
 		gro_normal_list(&napi->gro);
 		__napi_schedule(napi);
 		return;
@@ -6874,6 +6874,8 @@ static void __busy_poll_stop(struct napi_struct *napi, bool skip_schedule)
 	gro_flush_normal(&napi->gro, HZ >= 1000);
 
 	clear_bit(NAPI_STATE_SCHED, &napi->state);
+	hrtimer_start(&napi->timer, ns_to_ktime(timeout),
+		      HRTIMER_MODE_REL_PINNED);
 }
 
 enum {
@@ -6885,8 +6887,7 @@ static void busy_poll_stop(struct napi_struct *napi, void *have_poll_lock,
 			   unsigned flags, u16 budget)
 {
 	struct bpf_net_context __bpf_net_ctx, *bpf_net_ctx;
-	bool skip_schedule = false;
-	unsigned long timeout;
+	unsigned long timeout = 0;
 	int rc;
 
 	/* Busy polling means there is a high chance device driver hard irq
@@ -6906,10 +6907,12 @@ static void busy_poll_stop(struct napi_struct *napi, void *have_poll_lock,
 
 	if (flags & NAPI_F_PREFER_BUSY_POLL) {
 		napi->defer_hard_irqs_count = napi_get_defer_hard_irqs(napi);
-		timeout = napi_get_gro_flush_timeout(napi);
-		if (napi->defer_hard_irqs_count && timeout) {
-			hrtimer_start(&napi->timer, ns_to_ktime(timeout), HRTIMER_MODE_REL_PINNED);
-			skip_schedule = true;
+		if (napi->defer_hard_irqs_count) {
+			/* A short enough gro flush timeout and long enough
+			 * poll can result in timer firing too early.
+			 * Timer will be armed later if necessary.
+			 */
+			timeout = napi_get_gro_flush_timeout(napi);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -6924,7 +6927,7 @@ static void busy_poll_stop(struct napi_struct *napi, void *have_poll_lock,
 	trace_napi_poll(napi, rc, budget);
 	netpoll_poll_unlock(have_poll_lock);
 	if (rc == budget)
-		__busy_poll_stop(napi, skip_schedule);
+		__busy_poll_stop(napi, timeout);
 	bpf_net_ctx_clear(bpf_net_ctx);
 	local_bh_enable();
 }