diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_drv.c b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_drv.c
index 1a095085bc72..c197ad5ab580 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_drv.c
@@ -125,6 +125,15 @@ void vfio_ccw_crw_todo(struct work_struct *work)
 		eventfd_signal(private->crw_trigger);
 }
 
+void vfio_ccw_notoper_todo(struct work_struct *work)
+{
+	struct vfio_ccw_private *private;
+
+	private = container_of(work, struct vfio_ccw_private, notoper_work);
+
+	cp_free(&private->cp);
+}
+
 /*
  * Css driver callbacks
  */
diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_fsm.c b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_fsm.c
index 4d7988ea47ef..4d47a3c7b9a0 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_fsm.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_fsm.c
@@ -170,8 +170,7 @@ static void fsm_notoper(struct vfio_ccw_private *private,
 	css_sched_sch_todo(sch, SCH_TODO_UNREG);
 	private->state = VFIO_CCW_STATE_NOT_OPER;
 
-	/* This is usually handled during CLOSE event */
-	cp_free(&private->cp);
+	queue_work(vfio_ccw_work_q, &private->notoper_work);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_ops.c b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_ops.c
index d361d1fde3a0..1df6d649565b 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_ops.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_ops.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ static int vfio_ccw_mdev_init_dev(struct vfio_device *vdev)
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&private->crw);
 	INIT_WORK(&private->io_work, vfio_ccw_sch_io_todo);
 	INIT_WORK(&private->crw_work, vfio_ccw_crw_todo);
+	INIT_WORK(&private->notoper_work, vfio_ccw_notoper_todo);
 
 	private->cp.guest_cp = kzalloc_objs(struct ccw1, CCWCHAIN_LEN_MAX);
 	if (!private->cp.guest_cp)
@@ -134,9 +135,16 @@ static void vfio_ccw_mdev_release_dev(struct vfio_device *vdev)
 	/*
 	 * Ensure these work items are fully drained, so none can
 	 * fire after being released.
+	 *
+	 * notoper_work should have nothing to do here, because only
+	 * open devices could have channel_program resources in use
+	 * and those would be released during close. Nevertheless,
+	 * call flush here as well to be certain anything that was
+	 * allocated is freed.
 	 */
 	cancel_work_sync(&private->io_work);
 	cancel_work_sync(&private->crw_work);
+	flush_work(&private->notoper_work);
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(crw, temp, &private->crw, next) {
 		list_del(&crw->next);
@@ -213,9 +221,14 @@ static void vfio_ccw_mdev_close_device(struct vfio_device *vdev)
 	/*
 	 * Ensure these work items are drained, in the event the
 	 * device is re-opened instead of released.
+	 *
+	 * notoper_work needs to be given a chance to run if it
+	 * is queued, so any memory associated with the channel
+	 * program can be returned.
 	 */
 	cancel_work_sync(&private->io_work);
 	cancel_work_sync(&private->crw_work);
+	flush_work(&private->notoper_work);
 
 	vfio_ccw_unregister_dev_regions(private);
 }
diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_private.h b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_private.h
index 0501d4bbcdbd..e2256402b089 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_private.h
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_private.h
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ struct vfio_ccw_parent {
  * @req_trigger: eventfd ctx for signaling userspace to return device
  * @io_work: work for deferral process of I/O handling
  * @crw_work: work for deferral process of CRW handling
+ * @notoper_work: work for deferred processing in not-operational state
  */
 struct vfio_ccw_private {
 	struct vfio_device vdev;
@@ -125,11 +126,13 @@ struct vfio_ccw_private {
 	struct eventfd_ctx	*req_trigger;
 	struct work_struct	io_work;
 	struct work_struct	crw_work;
+	struct work_struct	notoper_work;
 } __aligned(8);
 
 int vfio_ccw_sch_quiesce(struct subchannel *sch);
 void vfio_ccw_sch_io_todo(struct work_struct *work);
 void vfio_ccw_crw_todo(struct work_struct *work);
+void vfio_ccw_notoper_todo(struct work_struct *work);
 
 extern struct mdev_driver vfio_ccw_mdev_driver;