return work;
 }
 
-static inline void __update_workgrp_llen(struct z_erofs_vle_workgroup *grp,
-                                        unsigned int llen)
-{
-       while (1) {
-               unsigned int orig_llen = grp->llen;
-
-               if (orig_llen >= llen || orig_llen ==
-                       cmpxchg(&grp->llen, orig_llen, llen))
-                       break;
-       }
-}
-
 #define builder_is_followed(builder) \
        ((builder)->role >= Z_EROFS_VLE_WORK_PRIMARY_FOLLOWED)
 
 repeat:
        work = z_erofs_vle_work_lookup(&finder);
        if (work != NULL) {
-               __update_workgrp_llen(grp, map->m_llen);
+               unsigned int orig_llen;
+
+               /* increase workgroup `llen' if needed */
+               while ((orig_llen = READ_ONCE(grp->llen)) < map->m_llen &&
+                      orig_llen != cmpxchg_relaxed(&grp->llen,
+                                                   orig_llen, map->m_llen))
+                       cpu_relax();
                goto got_it;
        }