diff --git a/io_uring/io-wq.c b/io_uring/io-wq.c
index 2ca223e47d41..2a980e86dd94 100644
--- a/io_uring/io-wq.c
+++ b/io_uring/io-wq.c
@@ -1324,6 +1324,8 @@ static bool io_task_work_match(struct callback_head *cb, void *data)
 void io_wq_exit_start(struct io_wq *wq)
 {
 	set_bit(IO_WQ_BIT_EXIT, &wq->state);
+	/* Pairs with task_work_add() in io_queue_worker_create(). */
+	smp_mb__after_atomic();
 }
 
 static void io_wq_cancel_tw_create(struct io_wq *wq)