diff --git a/block/cfq-iosched.c b/block/cfq-iosched.c
index 7f909d2f4886..b399c62936e0 100644
--- a/block/cfq-iosched.c
+++ b/block/cfq-iosched.c
@@ -1303,10 +1303,10 @@ static void cfq_init_prio_data(struct cfq_queue *cfqq, struct io_context *ioc)
 		printk(KERN_ERR "cfq: bad prio %x\n", ioprio_class);
 	case IOPRIO_CLASS_NONE:
 		/*
-		 * no prio set, place us in the middle of the BE classes
+		 * no prio set, inherit CPU scheduling settings
 		 */
 		cfqq->ioprio = task_nice_ioprio(tsk);
-		cfqq->ioprio_class = IOPRIO_CLASS_BE;
+		cfqq->ioprio_class = task_nice_ioclass(tsk);
 		break;
 	case IOPRIO_CLASS_RT:
 		cfqq->ioprio = task_ioprio(ioc);
diff --git a/include/linux/ioprio.h b/include/linux/ioprio.h
index 2a3bb1bb7433..f98a656b17e5 100644
--- a/include/linux/ioprio.h
+++ b/include/linux/ioprio.h
@@ -67,6 +67,20 @@ static inline int task_nice_ioprio(struct task_struct *task)
 	return (task_nice(task) + 20) / 5;
 }
 
+/*
+ * This is for the case where the task hasn't asked for a specific IO class.
+ * Check for idle and rt task process, and return appropriate IO class.
+ */
+static inline int task_nice_ioclass(struct task_struct *task)
+{
+	if (task->policy == SCHED_IDLE)
+		return IOPRIO_CLASS_IDLE;
+	else if (task->policy == SCHED_FIFO || task->policy == SCHED_RR)
+		return IOPRIO_CLASS_RT;
+	else
+		return IOPRIO_CLASS_BE;
+}
+
 /*
  * For inheritance, return the highest of the two given priorities
  */