diff --git a/kernel/brick_checking.h b/kernel/brick_checking.h
index e951673c..7760bcce 100644
--- a/kernel/brick_checking.h
+++ b/kernel/brick_checking.h
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@ do {									\
 
 #define CHECK_HEAD_EMPTY(head)						\
 do {									\
-	if (BRICK_CHECKING && unlikely(!list_empty(head) && (head)->next)) { \
+	if (BRICK_CHECKING &&						\
+	    unlikely(!list_empty(head) &&				\
+		     (head)->next &&					\
+		     (head)->next != LIST_POISON1 &&			\
+		     (head)->prev != LIST_POISON2)) {			\
 		list_del_init(head);					\
 		BRICK_ERR("%d: list_head " #head " (%p) not empty\n", __LINE__, head); \
 	}								\