diff --git a/kernel/locking/mutex.c b/kernel/locking/mutex.c
index dd26bf6de..4bd9546 100644
--- a/kernel/locking/mutex.c
+++ b/kernel/locking/mutex.c
@@ -46,12 +46,6 @@
 # include <asm/mutex.h>
 #endif
 
-/*
- * A negative mutex count indicates that waiters are sleeping waiting for the
- * mutex.
- */
-#define	MUTEX_SHOW_NO_WAITER(mutex)	(atomic_read(&(mutex)->count) >= 0)
-
 void
 __mutex_init(struct mutex *lock, const char *name, struct lock_class_key *key)
 {
@@ -483,8 +477,11 @@
 #endif
 	spin_lock_mutex(&lock->wait_lock, flags);
 
-	/* once more, can we acquire the lock? */
-	if (MUTEX_SHOW_NO_WAITER(lock) && (atomic_xchg(&lock->count, 0) == 1))
+	/*
+	 * Once more, try to acquire the lock. Only try-lock the mutex if
+	 * lock->count >= 0 to reduce unnecessary xchg operations.
+	 */
+	if (atomic_read(&lock->count) >= 0 && (atomic_xchg(&lock->count, 0) == 1))
 		goto skip_wait;
 
 	debug_mutex_lock_common(lock, &waiter);
@@ -504,9 +501,10 @@
 		 * it's unlocked. Later on, if we sleep, this is the
 		 * operation that gives us the lock. We xchg it to -1, so
 		 * that when we release the lock, we properly wake up the
-		 * other waiters:
+		 * other waiters. We only attempt the xchg if the count is
+		 * non-negative in order to avoid unnecessary xchg operations:
 		 */
-		if (MUTEX_SHOW_NO_WAITER(lock) &&
+		if (atomic_read(&lock->count) >= 0 &&
 		    (atomic_xchg(&lock->count, -1) == 1))
 			break;