diff --git a/kernel/events/core.c b/kernel/events/core.c
index ef422d1326a8..c7651c30eaab 100644
--- a/kernel/events/core.c
+++ b/kernel/events/core.c
@@ -4661,6 +4661,7 @@ int perf_event_release_kernel(struct perf_event *event)
 again:
 	mutex_lock(&event->child_mutex);
 	list_for_each_entry(child, &event->child_list, child_list) {
+		void *var = NULL;
 
 		/*
 		 * Cannot change, child events are not migrated, see the
@@ -4701,11 +4702,23 @@ again:
 			 * this can't be the last reference.
 			 */
 			put_event(event);
+		} else {
+			var = &ctx->refcount;
 		}
 
 		mutex_unlock(&event->child_mutex);
 		mutex_unlock(&ctx->mutex);
 		put_ctx(ctx);
+
+		if (var) {
+			/*
+			 * If perf_event_free_task() has deleted all events from the
+			 * ctx while the child_mutex got released above, make sure to
+			 * notify about the preceding put_ctx().
+			 */
+			smp_mb(); /* pairs with wait_var_event() */
+			wake_up_var(var);
+		}
 		goto again;
 	}
 	mutex_unlock(&event->child_mutex);