diff --git a/fs/io-wq.c b/fs/io-wq.c
index a92fbdc8bea3..db150186ce94 100644
--- a/fs/io-wq.c
+++ b/fs/io-wq.c
@@ -1072,27 +1072,25 @@ enum io_wq_cancel io_wq_cancel_cb(struct io_wq *wq, work_cancel_fn *cancel,
 	 * First check pending list, if we're lucky we can just remove it
 	 * from there. CANCEL_OK means that the work is returned as-new,
 	 * no completion will be posted for it.
+	 *
+	 * Then check if a free (going busy) or busy worker has the work
+	 * currently running. If we find it there, we'll return CANCEL_RUNNING
+	 * as an indication that we attempt to signal cancellation. The
+	 * completion will run normally in this case.
+	 *
+	 * Do both of these while holding the wqe->lock, to ensure that
+	 * we'll find a work item regardless of state.
 	 */
 	for_each_node(node) {
 		struct io_wqe *wqe = wq->wqes[node];
 
 		raw_spin_lock(&wqe->lock);
 		io_wqe_cancel_pending_work(wqe, &match);
-		raw_spin_unlock(&wqe->lock);
-		if (match.nr_pending && !match.cancel_all)
+		if (match.nr_pending && !match.cancel_all) {
+			raw_spin_unlock(&wqe->lock);
 			return IO_WQ_CANCEL_OK;
-	}
+		}
 
-	/*
-	 * Now check if a free (going busy) or busy worker has the work
-	 * currently running. If we find it there, we'll return CANCEL_RUNNING
-	 * as an indication that we attempt to signal cancellation. The
-	 * completion will run normally in this case.
-	 */
-	for_each_node(node) {
-		struct io_wqe *wqe = wq->wqes[node];
-
-		raw_spin_lock(&wqe->lock);
 		io_wqe_cancel_running_work(wqe, &match);
 		raw_spin_unlock(&wqe->lock);
 		if (match.nr_running && !match.cancel_all)