diff --git a/lib/event/reactor.c b/lib/event/reactor.c
index b70b56b72..91ee1a1f8 100644
--- a/lib/event/reactor.c
+++ b/lib/event/reactor.c
@@ -703,7 +703,12 @@ _reactors_scheduler_update_core_mode(void *ctx)
 	struct spdk_reactor *reactor;
 	int rc = 0;
 
-	g_scheduler_core_number = spdk_env_get_next_core(g_scheduler_core_number);
+	if (g_scheduler_core_number == SPDK_ENV_LCORE_ID_ANY) {
+		g_scheduler_core_number = spdk_env_get_first_core();
+	} else {
+		g_scheduler_core_number = spdk_env_get_next_core(g_scheduler_core_number);
+	}
+
 	if (g_scheduler_core_number == SPDK_ENV_LCORE_ID_ANY) {
 		_reactors_scheduler_fini();
 		return;
@@ -728,7 +733,7 @@ _reactors_scheduler_balance(void *arg1, void *arg2)
 	if (g_reactor_state == SPDK_REACTOR_STATE_RUNNING) {
 		g_scheduler->balance(g_core_infos, g_reactor_count, &g_governor);
 
-		g_scheduler_core_number = spdk_env_get_first_core();
+		g_scheduler_core_number = SPDK_ENV_LCORE_ID_ANY;
 		_reactors_scheduler_update_core_mode(NULL);
 	}
 }