diff --git a/net/unix/garbage.c b/net/unix/garbage.c
index a7967a345827..0783555e2526 100644
--- a/net/unix/garbage.c
+++ b/net/unix/garbage.c
@@ -607,6 +607,8 @@ static void unix_gc(struct work_struct *work)
 	struct sk_buff_head hitlist;
 	struct sk_buff *skb;
 
+	WRITE_ONCE(gc_in_progress, true);
+
 	spin_lock(&unix_gc_lock);
 
 	if (unix_graph_state == UNIX_GRAPH_NOT_CYCLIC) {
@@ -649,10 +651,8 @@ void unix_schedule_gc(struct user_struct *user)
 	    READ_ONCE(user->unix_inflight) < UNIX_INFLIGHT_SANE_USER)
 		return;
 
-	if (!READ_ONCE(gc_in_progress)) {
-		WRITE_ONCE(gc_in_progress, true);
+	if (!READ_ONCE(gc_in_progress))
 		queue_work(system_dfl_wq, &unix_gc_work);
-	}
 
 	if (user && READ_ONCE(unix_graph_cyclic_sccs))
 		flush_work(&unix_gc_work);