diff --git a/block/blk-iocost.c b/block/blk-iocost.c
index 75eb90b3241e..1acd96c9d5c0 100644
--- a/block/blk-iocost.c
+++ b/block/blk-iocost.c
@@ -907,7 +907,17 @@ static void __propagate_active_weight(struct ioc_gq *iocg, u32 active, u32 inuse
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ioc->lock);
 
-	inuse = clamp_t(u32, inuse, 1, active);
+	/*
+	 * For an active leaf node, its inuse shouldn't be zero or exceed
+	 * @active. An active internal node's inuse is solely determined by the
+	 * inuse to active ratio of its children regardless of @inuse.
+	 */
+	if (list_empty(&iocg->active_list) && iocg->child_active_sum) {
+		inuse = DIV64_U64_ROUND_UP(active * iocg->child_inuse_sum,
+					   iocg->child_active_sum);
+	} else {
+		inuse = clamp_t(u32, inuse, 1, active);
+	}
 
 	if (active == iocg->active && inuse == iocg->inuse)
 		return;
@@ -920,7 +930,7 @@ static void __propagate_active_weight(struct ioc_gq *iocg, u32 active, u32 inuse
 		/* update the level sums */
 		parent->child_active_sum += (s32)(active - child->active);
 		parent->child_inuse_sum += (s32)(inuse - child->inuse);
-		/* apply the udpates */
+		/* apply the updates */
 		child->active = active;
 		child->inuse = inuse;