diff --git a/net/sunrpc/cache.c b/net/sunrpc/cache.c
index 391037f15292..1bc04109d213 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/cache.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/cache.c
@@ -430,10 +430,9 @@ void sunrpc_destroy_cache_detail(struct cache_detail *cd)
 	list_del_init(&cd->others);
 	spin_unlock(&cd->hash_lock);
 	spin_unlock(&cache_list_lock);
-	if (list_empty(&cache_list)) {
-		/* module must be being unloaded so its safe to kill the worker */
-		cancel_delayed_work_sync(&cache_cleaner);
-	}
+	cancel_delayed_work_sync(&cache_cleaner);
+	if (!list_empty(&cache_list))
+		queue_delayed_work(system_power_efficient_wq, &cache_cleaner, 0);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(sunrpc_destroy_cache_detail);