diff --git a/net/core/netpoll.c b/net/core/netpoll.c
index 229dde818ab3..96d5945e6a30 100644
--- a/net/core/netpoll.c
+++ b/net/core/netpoll.c
@@ -633,14 +633,6 @@ static void rcu_cleanup_netpoll_info(struct rcu_head *rcu_head)
 			container_of(rcu_head, struct netpoll_info, rcu);
 
 	skb_queue_purge(&npinfo->txq);
-
-	/* we can't call cancel_delayed_work_sync here, as we are in softirq */
-	cancel_delayed_work(&npinfo->tx_work);
-
-	/* clean after last, unfinished work */
-	__skb_queue_purge(&npinfo->txq);
-	/* now cancel it again */
-	cancel_delayed_work(&npinfo->tx_work);
 	kfree(npinfo);
 }
 
@@ -664,6 +656,7 @@ static void __netpoll_cleanup(struct netpoll *np)
 			ops->ndo_netpoll_cleanup(np->dev);
 
 		RCU_INIT_POINTER(np->dev->npinfo, NULL);
+		disable_delayed_work_sync(&npinfo->tx_work);
 		call_rcu(&npinfo->rcu, rcu_cleanup_netpoll_info);
 	}