diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/balancer/StochasticLoadBalancer.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/balancer/StochasticLoadBalancer.java
index fc5939e7dd0..4d04282b1ba 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/balancer/StochasticLoadBalancer.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/balancer/StochasticLoadBalancer.java
@@ -295,11 +295,11 @@ public class StochasticLoadBalancer extends BaseLoadBalancer {
 
   private boolean areSomeRegionReplicasColocated(BalancerClusterState c) {
     regionReplicaHostCostFunction.prepare(c);
-    if (regionReplicaHostCostFunction.cost() > 0) {
+    if (Math.abs(regionReplicaHostCostFunction.cost()) > CostFunction.COST_EPSILON) {
       return true;
     }
     regionReplicaRackCostFunction.prepare(c);
-    if (regionReplicaRackCostFunction.cost() > 0) {
+    if (Math.abs(regionReplicaRackCostFunction.cost()) > CostFunction.COST_EPSILON) {
       return true;
     }
     return false;