diff --git a/drivers/misc/mei/init.c b/drivers/misc/mei/init.c
index 713d89fedc46..f580d30bb784 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/mei/init.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/mei/init.c
@@ -197,6 +197,8 @@ void mei_stop(struct mei_device *dev)
 {
 	dev_dbg(&dev->pdev->dev, "stopping the device.\n");
 
+	flush_scheduled_work();
+
 	mutex_lock(&dev->device_lock);
 
 	cancel_delayed_work(&dev->timer_work);
@@ -210,8 +212,6 @@ void mei_stop(struct mei_device *dev)
 
 	mutex_unlock(&dev->device_lock);
 
-	flush_scheduled_work();
-
 	mei_watchdog_unregister(dev);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(mei_stop);