diff --git a/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/concurrent/NonStickyEventExecutorGroup.java b/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/concurrent/NonStickyEventExecutorGroup.java
index bcc4b82996..a2692f6696 100644
--- a/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/concurrent/NonStickyEventExecutorGroup.java
+++ b/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/concurrent/NonStickyEventExecutorGroup.java
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ public final class NonStickyEventExecutorGroup implements EventExecutorGroup {
                         //
                         // The above cases can be distinguished by performing a
                         // compareAndSet(NONE, RUNNING). If it returns "false", it is case 1; otherwise it is case 2.
-                        if (tasks.peek() == null || !state.compareAndSet(NONE, RUNNING)) {
+                        if (tasks.isEmpty() || !state.compareAndSet(NONE, RUNNING)) {
                             return; // done
                         }
                     }