{
        const struct intel_engine_cs *inflight;
 
+       if (!rq)
+               return false;
+
        if (!(rq->execution_mask & engine->mask)) /* We peeked too soon! */
                return false;
 
                spin_lock(&ve->base.active.lock);
 
                rq = ve->request;
-               if (unlikely(!rq)) /* lost the race to a sibling */
-                       goto unlock;
+               if (unlikely(!virtual_matches(ve, rq, engine)))
+                       goto unlock; /* lost the race to a sibling */
 
                GEM_BUG_ON(rq->engine != &ve->base);
                GEM_BUG_ON(rq->context != &ve->context);
                        break;
                }
 
-               GEM_BUG_ON(!virtual_matches(ve, rq, engine));
-
                if (last && !can_merge_rq(last, rq)) {
                        spin_unlock(&ve->base.active.lock);
                        spin_unlock(&engine->active.lock);