diff --git a/fs/smb/client/connect.c b/fs/smb/client/connect.c
index cbeb5637eeb9..104658e318b6 100644
--- a/fs/smb/client/connect.c
+++ b/fs/smb/client/connect.c
@@ -1871,14 +1871,6 @@ cifs_get_tcp_session(struct smb3_fs_context *ctx,
 	 * this will succeed. No need for try_module_get().
 	 */
 	__module_get(THIS_MODULE);
-	tcp_ses->tsk = kthread_run(cifs_demultiplex_thread,
-				  tcp_ses, "cifsd");
-	if (IS_ERR(tcp_ses->tsk)) {
-		rc = PTR_ERR(tcp_ses->tsk);
-		cifs_dbg(VFS, "error %d create cifsd thread\n", rc);
-		module_put(THIS_MODULE);
-		goto out_err_crypto_release;
-	}
 	tcp_ses->min_offload = ctx->min_offload;
 	tcp_ses->retrans = ctx->retrans;
 	/*
@@ -1886,9 +1878,7 @@ cifs_get_tcp_session(struct smb3_fs_context *ctx,
 	 * to the struct since the kernel thread not created yet
 	 * no need to spinlock this update of tcpStatus
 	 */
-	spin_lock(&tcp_ses->srv_lock);
 	tcp_ses->tcpStatus = CifsNeedNegotiate;
-	spin_unlock(&tcp_ses->srv_lock);
 
 	if ((ctx->max_credits < 20) || (ctx->max_credits > 60000))
 		tcp_ses->max_credits = SMB2_MAX_CREDITS_AVAILABLE;
@@ -1897,7 +1887,16 @@ cifs_get_tcp_session(struct smb3_fs_context *ctx,
 
 	tcp_ses->nr_targets = 1;
 	tcp_ses->ignore_signature = ctx->ignore_signature;
-	/* thread spawned, put it on the list */
+
+	tcp_ses->tsk = kthread_create(cifs_demultiplex_thread,
+				  tcp_ses, "cifsd");
+	if (IS_ERR(tcp_ses->tsk)) {
+		rc = PTR_ERR(tcp_ses->tsk);
+		cifs_dbg(VFS, "error %d create cifsd thread\n", rc);
+		module_put(THIS_MODULE);
+		goto out_err_crypto_release;
+	}
+	/* thread created, put it on the list */
 	spin_lock(&cifs_tcp_ses_lock);
 	list_add(&tcp_ses->tcp_ses_list, &cifs_tcp_ses_list);
 	spin_unlock(&cifs_tcp_ses_lock);
@@ -1905,6 +1904,12 @@ cifs_get_tcp_session(struct smb3_fs_context *ctx,
 	/* queue echo request delayed work */
 	queue_delayed_work(cifsiod_wq, &tcp_ses->echo, tcp_ses->echo_interval);
 
+	/*
+	 * Use split create/wake logic to ensure that tcp_ses is fully populated
+	 * and tcp_ses->tsk is valid
+	 */
+	wake_up_process(tcp_ses->tsk);
+
 	return tcp_ses;
 
 out_err_crypto_release: