diff --git a/gc/base/MarkingScheme.cpp b/gc/base/MarkingScheme.cpp
index 94566a88884..394d0a5701a 100644
--- a/gc/base/MarkingScheme.cpp
+++ b/gc/base/MarkingScheme.cpp
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ MM_MarkingScheme::createWorkPackets(MM_EnvironmentBase *env)
 	return workPackets;
 }
 
-void
+bool
 MM_MarkingScheme::fixupForwardedSlot(omrobjectptr_t *slotPtr) {
 #if defined(OMR_GC_CONCURRENT_SCAVENGER)
 	bool const compressed = _extensions->compressObjectReferences();
@@ -423,10 +423,12 @@ MM_MarkingScheme::fixupForwardedSlot(omrobjectptr_t *slotPtr) {
 				forwardHeader.restoreSelfForwardedPointer();
 			} else {
 				*slotPtr = forwardPtr;
+				return true;
 			}
 		}
 	}
 #endif /* OMR_GC_CONCURRENT_SCAVENGER */
+	return false;
 }
 
 uintptr_t
diff --git a/gc/base/MarkingScheme.hpp b/gc/base/MarkingScheme.hpp
index 3c2c67002db..68c31f32c4e 100644
--- a/gc/base/MarkingScheme.hpp
+++ b/gc/base/MarkingScheme.hpp
@@ -291,12 +291,13 @@ class MM_MarkingScheme : public MM_BaseVirtual
 	MMINLINE void fixupForwardedSlot(GC_SlotObject *slotObject) {
 		if (_extensions->isConcurrentScavengerEnabled() && _extensions->isScavengerBackOutFlagRaised()) {
 			omrobjectptr_t slot = slotObject->readReferenceFromSlot();
-			fixupForwardedSlot(&slot);
-			slotObject->writeReferenceToSlot(slot);
+			if (fixupForwardedSlot(&slot)) {
+				slotObject->writeReferenceToSlot(slot);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
-	void fixupForwardedSlot(omrobjectptr_t *slotPtr);
+	bool fixupForwardedSlot(omrobjectptr_t *slotPtr);
 	virtual uintptr_t setupIndexableScanner(MM_EnvironmentBase *env, omrobjectptr_t objectPtr, MM_MarkingSchemeScanReason reason, uintptr_t *sizeToDo, uintptr_t *sizeInElementsToDo, fomrobject_t **basePtr, uintptr_t *flags);
 
 	/**