diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-crypt.c b/drivers/md/dm-crypt.c
index d85648b9c247..571c04e70343 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-crypt.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-crypt.c
@@ -2092,7 +2092,12 @@ static void *crypt_page_alloc(gfp_t gfp_mask, void *pool_data)
 	struct crypt_config *cc = pool_data;
 	struct page *page;
 
-	if (unlikely(percpu_counter_compare(&cc->n_allocated_pages, dm_crypt_pages_per_client) >= 0) &&
+	/*
+	 * Note, percpu_counter_read_positive() may over (and under) estimate
+	 * the current usage by at most (batch - 1) * num_online_cpus() pages,
+	 * but avoids potential spinlock contention of an exact result.
+	 */
+	if (unlikely(percpu_counter_read_positive(&cc->n_allocated_pages) >= dm_crypt_pages_per_client) &&
 	    likely(gfp_mask & __GFP_NORETRY))
 		return NULL;