diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-cache-target.c b/drivers/md/dm-cache-target.c
index 58b97226050f..1b7d77080d6b 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-cache-target.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-cache-target.c
@@ -2192,8 +2192,8 @@ static void wait_for_migrations(struct cache *cache)
 
 static void stop_worker(struct cache *cache)
 {
-	cancel_delayed_work(&cache->waker);
-	flush_workqueue(cache->wq);
+	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&cache->waker);
+	drain_workqueue(cache->wq);
 }
 
 static void requeue_deferred_cells(struct cache *cache)