Index: linux-2.6/kernel/sched.c
===================================================================
--- linux-2.6.orig/kernel/sched.c	2005-04-07 02:39:22.000000000 +1000
+++ linux-2.6/kernel/sched.c	2005-04-07 02:45:26.000000000 +1000
@@ -2041,6 +2041,12 @@ static runqueue_t *find_busiest_queue(st
 }
 
 /*
+ * Max backoff if we encounter pinned tasks. Pretty arbitrary value, but
+ * so long as it is large enough.
+ */
+#define MAX_PINNED_INTERVAL	1024
+
+/*
  * Check this_cpu to ensure it is balanced within domain. Attempt to move
  * tasks if there is an imbalance.
  *
@@ -2052,7 +2058,7 @@ static int load_balance(int this_cpu, ru
 	struct sched_group *group;
 	runqueue_t *busiest;
 	unsigned long imbalance;
-	int nr_moved, all_pinned;
+	int nr_moved, all_pinned = 0;
 	int active_balance = 0;
 
 	spin_lock(&this_rq->lock);
@@ -2143,7 +2149,8 @@ out_balanced:
 
 	sd->nr_balance_failed = 0;
 	/* tune up the balancing interval */
-	if (sd->balance_interval < sd->max_interval)
+	if ((all_pinned && sd->balance_interval < MAX_PINNED_INTERVAL) ||
+			(sd->balance_interval < sd->max_interval))
 		sd->balance_interval *= 2;
 
 	return 0;