diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/bpf_testmod/bpf_testmod.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/bpf_testmod/bpf_testmod.c
index 91907b321f91..e7c9e1c7fde0 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/bpf_testmod/bpf_testmod.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/bpf_testmod/bpf_testmod.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 /* Copyright (c) 2020 Facebook */
 #include <linux/btf.h>
 #include <linux/btf_ids.h>
+#include <linux/delay.h>
 #include <linux/error-injection.h>
 #include <linux/init.h>
 #include <linux/module.h>
@@ -544,6 +545,14 @@ static int bpf_testmod_init(void)
 
 static void bpf_testmod_exit(void)
 {
+        /* Need to wait for all references to be dropped because
+         * bpf_kfunc_call_test_release() which currently resides in kernel can
+         * be called after bpf_testmod is unloaded. Once release function is
+         * moved into the module this wait can be removed.
+         */
+	while (refcount_read(&prog_test_struct.cnt) > 1)
+		msleep(20);
+
 	return sysfs_remove_bin_file(kernel_kobj, &bin_attr_bpf_testmod_file);
 }