diff --git a/net/sched/sch_hfsc.c b/net/sched/sch_hfsc.c
index 2af4adb7e84e4..9ebae0d07a9c6 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_hfsc.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_hfsc.c
@@ -903,6 +903,14 @@ hfsc_change_usc(struct hfsc_class *cl, struct tc_service_curve *usc,
 	cl->cl_flags |= HFSC_USC;
 }
 
+static void
+hfsc_upgrade_rt(struct hfsc_class *cl)
+{
+	cl->cl_fsc = cl->cl_rsc;
+	rtsc_init(&cl->cl_virtual, &cl->cl_fsc, cl->cl_vt, cl->cl_total);
+	cl->cl_flags |= HFSC_FSC;
+}
+
 static const struct nla_policy hfsc_policy[TCA_HFSC_MAX + 1] = {
 	[TCA_HFSC_RSC]	= { .len = sizeof(struct tc_service_curve) },
 	[TCA_HFSC_FSC]	= { .len = sizeof(struct tc_service_curve) },
@@ -1012,10 +1020,6 @@ hfsc_change_class(struct Qdisc *sch, u32 classid, u32 parentid,
 		if (parent == NULL)
 			return -ENOENT;
 	}
-	if (!(parent->cl_flags & HFSC_FSC) && parent != &q->root) {
-		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Invalid parent - parent class must have FSC");
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
 
 	if (classid == 0 || TC_H_MAJ(classid ^ sch->handle) != 0)
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -1068,6 +1072,12 @@ hfsc_change_class(struct Qdisc *sch, u32 classid, u32 parentid,
 	cl->cf_tree = RB_ROOT;
 
 	sch_tree_lock(sch);
+	/* Check if the inner class is a misconfigured 'rt' */
+	if (!(parent->cl_flags & HFSC_FSC) && parent != &q->root) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack,
+			       "Forced curve change on parent 'rt' to 'sc'");
+		hfsc_upgrade_rt(parent);
+	}
 	qdisc_class_hash_insert(&q->clhash, &cl->cl_common);
 	list_add_tail(&cl->siblings, &parent->children);
 	if (parent->level == 0)